Paul Heckingbottom gave his reaction to yesterday's 1-0 defeat away at Bramall Lane.
In a feisty, hot-tempered South Yorkshire derby clash, it was the home side who went home the happier; their early Billy Sharp strike enough to take victory and condemn the Reds to a third league defeat in four games.
The Barnsley Gaffer pointed to the poor start by his side as being the catalyst for what proved to be a disappointing performance by the Reds.
"The start of the game cost us," he told the waiting press after the match. "We were second best for a long period and it probably took the goal to wake us up. We looked taken aback by the occasion, I don't know, but it reminded me of us at Bristol City on the opening day of the season.
"So it's very disappointing and the players know that. I've asked them where they think we've gone wrong and they told me everything. So they know."
The Reds had been praised for their two performances prior to yesterday's trip to Sheffield. The manner of their victory over high-flying Nottingham Forest last Tuesday night in particular had given both the players and Hecky cause for optimism.
But there was a marked contrast when comparing the efforts yesterday in a game where Barnsley rarely tested their opponents.
"I am disappointed, but it's sort of expected if I'm honest. This is one of the reasons I went with the same team. It's the first time I've ever done it in the Championship because it's such a demanding league and I think you need to try and keep freshening things up if you can.
"But we kind of set a benchmark with the last couple of performances which were really, really good and so I want to learn about all of these players. They're brand new so I need to. It was another game for me to learn in. The players we've got were challenged. I know their strengths and I know their weaknesses. So it was another learning game for us."
You can see Hecky's reaction in full over on iFollow.
