Reds head coach Lee Johnson admits the next three games against some of the top teams in League One could be crucial in determining whether his side reach the play-offs or not.

Sixth-placed Barnsley are about to face the only teams above them in the current form table as they host second-placed Preston North End tomorrow before visiting runaway leaders Bristol City a week later. They will then welcome Sheffield United, who are currently one place above them, on April 4 and Johnson says that the performance level will have to improve from the 0-0 draw at Leyton Orient on Tuesday which ended a run of six straight wins.

"We need to up it a bit in the next few games," said the Barnsley boss, who is unbeaten since taking over at Oakwell last month.

"They will be the test of whether the players have got the mettle.  We will need at least five wins to get in the top six so, if we lose the next two or three, it's not the be all and end all but we'll have to go on a run of wins.  I would rather have these games than be playing the bottom three.

"We're not expected to win so that takes the pressure off. Four or five weeks ago I don't think people would have been excited about these games because they expected us to be in a relegation battle.

"But now we're up near the top of the league and everyone is getting excited.  They are the sort of games you want to be involved in as a footballer and a manager. We're in the play-off places now and we want to stay there. "It's a bit of a bonus to be in the top six and that's a good way to look at it."