Reds Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom spoke to the press after seeing his side secure an excellent three points!
Paul Heckingbottom praised Barnsley’s character for showing a “different side to their game” in this afternoon’s 2-1 win over Preston North End.
Goals from Adam Armstrong and Sam Winnall were enough to move the Reds up to second in the Championship table.
He feels the side had to dig in for victory but got the rewards they deserved.
He said, "We really withstood a real onslaught from Preston today and they threw everything at us in the first 20-25 minutes of the second half.
“It was the doggedness, the resilience and the organisation of the team that carried us through that spell.
“We made the change to go to three in the middle to try and get control of the ball but we earned the right to play a bit more football.”
The Head Coach was forced to change the playing style of the side in the second half as the Lilywhites began to grow into the game, but added such decisions had been discussed prior to the game.
He added that having the strength in depth and options on the bench but is keen not to get carried away with the Reds’ recent form.
“We’re always ready to do things like that and we’re always thinking about it before a game and the scenarios that might unfold.
“We felt as the game wore on we had to do that, not just because they upped their game, but we felt because they were playing two in the middle, if we could get someone behind them, we could cause them problems and Josh Scowen did that.
“It’s important we have that quality in depth now and it’s terrific we have the options to come on and win it, as we had to do that today.
“We’re not getting carried away, we know we weren’t our best with the ball but we were very good without it and the boys got their rewards.”
New signing Angus MacDonald starred again at centre-back and Heckingbottom feels the former Torquay defender will continue to develop with more game time under his belt.
“Angus did well again today,” the Head Coach added. “We have a lot of feedback for him now just like the other lads and they’ll all be pushed and will get to know their roles and responsibilities.
“We’ve done that this week with Angus and he’ll get even more after today’s game. The more he understands his role, the more we’re going to get him to understand other player’s roles around him.”
For Hecky, sending the fans home happy is always one of his biggest tests and he hopes that today’s performances will continue throughout the season, both at Fortress Oakwell and away from home.
“I’m proud of them but I think the fans are proud of them and that’s what they want to see and they are getting the rewards.
“The players are crossing the white line and getting the wins and likewise if they put in a performance like that and they don’t get the win, they’ve done all that we can ask.
“That’s the message we’re trying to get home that that’s what’s required every game. Sometimes it will be good enough, other times it might not be,” he added.
Watch Paul Heckingbottom's full press conference on www.player.barnsleyfc.co.uk