After putting in another impressive display, this time against Wigan Athletic, Toby Sibbick discussed the first month of the season.
On the match itself, Sibbick stated it would be a ‘tough’ test against an expensive, newly assembled Latics side. The versatile defender began the match in central midfield, after previously playing at both right-back and in central defence for Daniel Stendel’s side.
Sibbick said: “Coming away from home, after last week, we knew would be a tough ask. They have been struggling and we haven’t had the results we wanted so we knew it would be a battle, especially with the injuries we’ve got across the team. I think we can be happy with the point, we could have got all three, but we can be happy with that.”
On starting the game in the heart of midfield, he continued: “To be fair, I only found out at the pre-match meal. The Gaffer told me last week he had the idea to play me in midfield but I didn’t really read into it too much, but today it happened. I have had to learn quickly and I think I adjusted well.
“As a kid I have played there a few times, but not as a professional. I enjoyed it, I liked the physical battle and trying to win the second balls. Being a defensive player, I think it helped me to win the second balls and then set the attacking players off. I felt comfortable, but that came from the lads making me feel that way by talking me through the game, telling me where I needed to be, and that helps when you’re on the pitch."
The Reds came into the game off the back of their first home defeat in over 500 days, after losing to Luton Town. That loss hurt the squad, but Toby stated that the players showed character and trained hard to put it behind them.
“I think it showed our character. We didn’t want last week to happen, but we knew if we could get a result here which we have, we could then train well and go into the game against Leeds full of confidence.
“Every day we’re working on the training pitch to improve, the Gaffer has his style and we all buy into that. That’s the main thing that will help us gel as a team and I think that’s going well at the moment.”
On his performances this month, which have left the coaching staff pleased and offering plenty of plaudits to the summer arrival, Sibbick stated he was thankful for the opportunity to play in the Sky Bet Championship and now wants to see progression as the season goes on.
“To be fair I think it comes by working hard in training. I think the Gaffer likes how I play, he’s trusted me and I am very grateful to him for helping me to play in the Championship. We have a good laugh with the lads every day in the changing room, so things have been good here. For a newly promoted team, it’s not the worst start, we know we could have had more points but we can work on that, we’re new to the league and we will get stronger.”
You can watch Toby's full post-match interview on iFollow Barnsley.
