Conor Hourihane praised Reyes Cleary for a ‘unique’ goal and his Barnsley team for their mentality in a 2-2 draw at Bradford on Saturday.

Cleary scored from 70 yards then, after the hosts took the lead for a second time, Patrick Kelly levelled.

Asked what he was thinking when Cleary shot, Hourihane told the Chronicle: “What are you doing?

“I knew it had a chance but I wasn’t sure it would go in. The skill to see it and execute it and have the courage to do it. Full credit to him, it will be all over social media and he will get plaudits.”

He added: “I have never seen a goal like that, I just felt the whole place stood still and waited. It was unique.

“Credit to Reyes, he’s been a breath of fresh air and earned his right to play. He looks sharp, electric and a threat. We needed more pace at the top of the pitch. “He’s took the opportunity with both hands.

“I didn’t see the ‘keeper off his line. “Sometimes players are watching out for it. I didn’t see it so for him to get his head up and do it, scoring over a massive ‘keeper, he’ll enjoy that one and I don’t think he’ll score any better.”

Cleary added: “I saw the ‘keeper was far off his line. I am good at diagonal passes and used the same technique for the shot. In life if you don’t try things, you don’t get results. It paid off.

“I thought I had too much height on it then I saw he was scrambling and eventually it dipped in.

“I was shocked. I didn’t know it went in until I heard the crowd. I thought it was straight over.

“I will watch that back a lot.”

On the game in general, Hourihane said: “Difficult to sum up because it was end to end and both teams did enough to win it in different spells. I am so proud of the lads.

“I told them at half-time you need to take the ball and play with courage, there is more space than you think. For 20 or 25 minutes in the second half, we were outstanding.

“At the end I could have put Robbo (Marc Roberts) on and gone five at the back but we’ve done so much work on the late goals so I thought ‘let’s see if the work has come through.’ I could have seen saying ‘why didn’t I do put Robbo on?’ but it is those moments that can be the foundations for you. Defenders put their bodies on the line.

“The lads are such a good team when they put their focus and mind to it. No one has come here and taken results this season.

“Analysing Bradford in my opinion, they are doing great but they leave big spaces in transition and I don’t think anyone has capitalised on that. The message to the players was that there was space to take the ball and play. If Phillo’s goal (Adam Phillips’ shot hit the bar at 2-2) went in that went off the crossbar it would have been one of the best goals we’ve scored as a team. We deserved a point minimum.”

There were almost 3,000 in the away end. Hourihane said: “The fans clapped us off like we’d won and it’s amazing to have that support. It’s a derby and it comes with the territory but if they see the lads putting in effort and playing with energy and intensity, they will back us all day long.”

Hourihane brought on Kelly and Mael de Gevigney at half-time for Caylan Vickers and Tennai Watson.

“T was feeling his hamstring. That was why Mael came on. Patrick is more physically suited to the game, end to end, he can compete for second balls whereas Caylan may struggle in a place like this which is his learning. It was more suited to Pat driving forward and being more solid as an extra midfielder.

“Mael has had to be really patient. There is no surprise he has come on for 45 minutes and done really well. He trains unbelievably well every day. When you’re not in the team it’s difficult but there was no question if he would be up to speed of games because of how he trained. He’s someone in dressing room I always pinpoint for the way he trains even though he could throw a stop.”

Hourihane was pleased with his team’s character to come from behind twice.

“Full credit to them. People go on about conceding late goals and it’s all about working hard and sticking to plan, improving all the time. Big plaudits to the lads. Josh Earl blocking, Mael heading away, Shep (Jack Shepherd) off the line, Nate (Ogbeta) made an unbelievable header in the first half when it looked like (Neill) Byrne was going over the top of him, Murphy (Cooper) made unbelievable saves.”