Paul Heckingbottom spoke to the press ahead of Tuesday night’s League One clash with Oldham Athletic at Oakwell.
The Reds Head Coach is determined to put the disappointing result from the weekend behind him, and bounce back quickly under the lights of Oakwell.
On Saturday’s defeat, Heckingbottom said, “We were really disappointed with the result, it wasn’t what we were after. Looking back at the performance though, it was good. All the players tried to do what we asked of them and after going back through the game this morning with them, there’s some real good examples of what we want to do and how we want to do it so that’s brilliant.
“It was the goals against, we could have stopped them. The things we’ve been doing really well in the last few games which has made us win when we haven’t been playing great, we didn’t do.”
“Luckily now we’ve got everyone fit.” Heckingbottom continued. “Hopefully we can keep everyone fit between now and the end of the season, then give certain people opportunities they’ve not had and take other people in and out the team to keep it fresh and keep the energy we’ve got that we showed on Saturday.
“We need to play that way, we’ve got to win almost every game now so we’ve got to go for it. Let’s enjoy playing with tempo and a bit of freedom, trying to create chances. When you can’t do that because teams are sitting in against you, you still have to be tight at the other end.”
Moving onto Oldham, Heckingbottom explained how the knowledge of Tommy Wright will help his preparation.
He said, “Tommy knows the players who are there inside out so in that regard, it’s similar to Chesterfield because we knew a lot of their players. It’s great for us, we know the players but what has changed since Shez (John Sheridan) has gone in there is the points they are picking up.
“I didn’t see too much of them before but I have watched a few Oldham games since he has gone in there and they are a lot more difficult to beat and they are playing with a lot more belief. We know it’s going to be tough and we know it’s going to be difficult as they are scrapping for their lives. It should turn out for a good game.
“They’re in good form, the league is like that, there’s not much between the teams in terms of standards. Some teams have real key individuals but once the organisation is right and the discipline and the confidence is there within the group, teams can be difficult to stop and we’ve seen that ourselves.”
The Reds' aim is now to make the League One Play-Off places, and even after the weekend’s defeat Heckingbottom is determined that it’s still a possibility, and it needs to begin on Tuesday night.
Heckingbottom explained, “Tomorrow night, Gillingham are at Walsall so regardless, if we win the gap is only four points straight away so that’s great for us. If we win and Walsall win, we’re only three points behind Gillingham so straight away you’re right back in the hunt. It’s far from over.
“Let’s get a great atmosphere here, play with the same energy and tempo and hopefully we get the three points. If not, we will have given everything and left everything on the pitch like the lads did Saturday.”
