Barnsley captain Andy Yiadom says the team went into Saturday’s clash with Brentford knowing that anything but three points would not have sufficed.
Goals from Kieffer Moore and Oli McBurnie ensured José Morais’ side claimed a priceless victory, which saw the Reds climb out of the relegation zone ahead of the Championship final day on Sunday.
“It was a massive win,” insisted Yiadom. “We went into the game knowing that we needed three points, and that a point or a loss wouldn’t really be good enough.
“We tried our best to get at them and put some pressure on them and I think, overall, we did that. We went and got the three points, which is massive.”
Barnsley took the lead inside ten minutes when Moore’s cross from the left flank sailed over the head of Daniel Bentley and into the far corner.
It was a stroke of luck that the Reds have rarely seen this campaign, and the side was also aided by the assistance of goal-line technology as McBurnie headed home his ninth goal for the Club five minutes after the interval.
“It doesn’t matter how they go in,” said Yiadom of Moore’s opener. “As soon as it nestled in the back of the net, that’s all that matters and I was buzzing.
“To go and get another goal at a crucial time of the game helped the team a lot.
“It helps a lot, but we set out to win on Saturday and against Derby so, off the back of this result, we’re confident that we can go and do that.”
Derby County currently occupy the final play-off spot, two points clear of seventh place Preston North End - who host Burton Albion on Sunday.
The Rams can secure a top six finish with a point, providing there isn’t a nine-goal swing in the tie at Deepdale.
“I’ve not been looking at the top of the table,” admitted Yiadom. “At this time of the season, form goes out of the window. We’ve just got to get three points and that’s what we’re going to try and do on Sunday.”
