Speaking after another scintillating, combative display, Callum Styles was delighted to get off the mark for the season with a blockbuster effort five minutes from time.
The magical midfield maestro leathered the ball into the roof of the net from 20-yards to break the deadlock against Nottingham Forest before Cauley Woodrow added a second moments later.
It came after the 20-year-old had moved inside following the introduction of Clarke Oduor for Alex Mowatt, and what an impact it was.
“I’m a central midfielder but I have been playing left wing-back, so for me to get 10 or 15 minutes in there was good just because it’s my more natural position and, to get a screamer like that makes it all the better,” smiled Styles.
Perhaps the only surprise was that his strike didn’t cannon back off the crossbar on what looked like it was going to be an exasperating afternoon for the Reds.
Woodrow was denied twice by the frame of the goal in either half, while Conor Chaplin had also rattled the woodwork as Barnsley searched for a breakthrough.
“You have those days where you’re so close to scoring but it doesn’t really creep in,” continued Styles. “But we broke the deadlock, got two goals and the win.
“That’s all you can ask for; you keep solid at the back. Then we get one or two chances and put them away and we come away with three points and we’ve done that.”
Playing in an aforementioned wing-back role, the versatile youngster has adapted brilliantly to his new position and is looking more and more natural as the weeks go on.
Styles has been instrumental in a team that has kept four clean sheets in the last five outings and he is thrilled with his own progression at the defensive side of his game.
“Personally, I think I’ve improved massively,” he admitted. “I thought that was one of my weaknesses growing up but, with playing games and working on it on the training pitch, I think I’m improving game by game.”
You can watch Callum’s post-match interview on iFollow Barnsley.
