CONOR Hourihane says Barnsley’s start to the season has been ‘OK’ but admits he may have to look into his players’ mentality with the number of goals conceded after 86 minutes this season already into double figures.
The Reds are ninth in League One with 17 points from ten games, after a 2-2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday in which they were 2-0 up on 88 minutes. That ended a four-game losing run in all competitions and left them two points off the top six.
Barnsley have let in a goal ten times in the 86th minute or later in their 14 games in all competitions this season.
They are on a club record run of conceding in five successive matches in that time period, with seven let in after the 86th minute across a fortnight.
Blackpool and Notts County scored late winners against the Reds, Brighton netted the last two of their six in the EFL Cup after 87 minutes and Port Vale made sure of their win at Oakwell in the 89th minute.
Hourihane told the Chronicle: “It’s potentially a mentality problem.
“We have to look and ask why.
“Quite a few players have been here a while. Is it something that sunk in that I need to look at and address a bit more?
“The home form was the big thing now it’s late goals.
“You sort one thing and something else thing crops up.
“We will look at it during the international break for sure.”
The tally of 17 points from ten games is higher than in the last two seasons at that stage and the same as Michael Duff collected before his side reached the play-off final in 2023.
Hourihane said: “It’s OK.
“We should have 19 points which is nearly two points a game.
“You do that all season and you wouldn’t be far off being up around the top of the table.
“If you told me we’d have 17 after ten games I would have been OK with it.
“We’ve thrown points away in some of those games.
“There will always be ups and downs in the season.”
Barnsley now have two weeks off as their scheduled game with Cardiff City has been postponed due to international call-ups.
The players are understood to have trained up until Wednesday of this week before being given some extra days off.
Hourihane said: “There will be some days off but we have to do good work as well. We’re not blessed with the biggest of squads. We’ve got to be realistic in terms of how we use players like Davo (Davis Keillor-Dunn) who has played cup games and a lot of lads have had to play quite a few minutes. We’ve not had the biggest of numbers.”
Barnsley’s next game is at second-placed Bradford City on October 18.
After that, they are due to host Manchester United under 21s in the EFL Trophy on October 21 then Rotherham United in the league four days later.
They start November in the FA Cup first round before playing a third straight Yorkshire derby in the league when they visit Doncaster Rovers on the eighth. Hourihane said: “Those games are something to look forward to.
“The Wycombe game was flat with not much going on then I was in shock with the late goals.
“But the next three games will be atmospheric and energetic.”
Barnsley are due to host Lincoln City in the trophy on November 11 then – with the home game against Northampton Town possibly the next to be called off due to international call-ups – they welcome Luton Town and visit Stockport County on consecutive Saturdays to round off November.
