Conor Hourihane said his Barnsley side were ‘outstanding’ as they bounced back from the midweek 5-0 loss at Port Vale with a 1-0 success at Peterborough United in the FA Cup second round.

Substitute Patrick Kelly got the only goal on 75 minutes.

Hourihane said: “I'm really, really pleased. I asked the lads for a reaction and I thought they were outstanding.

“I thought we were really aggressive with our press. My only gripe is I thought it should have been three or four with the amount of chances we had, particularly in the first half hour of the game and the last 20 odd minutes of the game.

“I just thought we needed to show a bit more care in and around the final third. We won the ball high up enough without showing that quality at the end.

“It should have been more of a comfortable afternoon.

“The goal we scored was a really good goal.

“I thought we played really well today and I'm really proud of the group.I wanted a real reaction from Tuesday night and the lads gave me that. It's a really good result.

“The lads were great. We picked a team off the back of Tuesday's performance and looking ahead to the league games in the week.”

Hourihane has balanced gametime between his squad over the two cup games.

“There were shared minutes, there was planned substitutions. Obviously we've got a big couple of league games in the week so overall we're really pleased.

“You're picking certain players and resting certain players. It was all part of what we're planning with the heavy schedule.

“We played Port Vale on Tuesday, today, next game Tuesday, next game Saturday.

“Sharing that load among certain people was important and I'm sure everyone's come through it okay, so it's been a positive day.

“We are really careful about how we go about our work. We don't pick the team for the sake of it.

“A lot of thought process goes into it. Fabio (Jalo) was always coming off at half time, Phillo (Adam Phillips) and Luca (Connell) were always going to play 45 minutes each so you try to share the load as best you can.

“You hope you come through injury free and I think we've done that.

“Sometimes plans come together, sometimes they don't, luckily for us it did today.”

Barnsley kept their third clean sheet of the season with Hourihane praising his defence.

“They were brilliant, they were great. We saw it out well.

“But as I said we should have been much more comfortable than that for the last ten minutes.

“We shouldn't have to defend a corner late on where they're sending their ‘keeper up.

“That's why you show that real killer instinct and go and get two and three so the last ten minutes become a calm, non-event.

“I'm delighted that they stood up to it, that's what the defenders are there to do. I'm delighted for Murph (Cooper) again to get a clean sheet.”

Georgie Gent returned after nine months with injury.

Hourihane said: “He was outstanding. He was one of our best players, the pick of the bunch today for me.

“His mentality to put in 90 minutes, he affected the ball every time he pressed the right back, he looked energetic throughout the game.

“He just got a round of applause off the players in the dressing room. He's been away for a long, long time with a real tough injury, an achilles injury.

“He's played a couple of 21s games which are always difficult because you try to find your fitness. It's hard at times to get up for those games.

“I thought he showed real aggression. He lasted 90 minutes. I didn't want to take him off, we were thinking about it.

He was still really positive in the dying stages of the game. Credit to him, I'm delighted for him. It's a big plus for me.”

On Monday’s third round draw, Hourihane said: “I just hope for the sake of everyone that we get a nice tie. Fingers crossed.

“Everyone will be hoping the same when you're League Two or League One level.

They're all looking for that glossy one. We'll see, but it would be nice to get a good one.”