Paul Heckingbottom says Barnsley are 'right where we wanted to be' and expects the race for the play-off places to continue until the final day of the season on May 8.

Barnsley could potentially go as high as fourth tomorrow as the three sides above them, Gillingham, Bradford and Millwall have all suffered defeats this week. The Reds are level on points behind the Gills – who have not won in five games – and only two and three off Bradford and Millwall respectively.

The area of the table just below Barnsley is also becoming congested. In-form trio of Rochdale – managed by former Oakwell both Keith Hill – tomorrow's opponents Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United are all just four points behind the Reds with Coventry and Port Vale slightly further back. After the short trip to Bramall Lane, Barnsley host lowly Colchester – who could be relegated tomorrow – then visit Wigan who may be champions by then.

Heckingbottom said: "It is set up brilliantly for the last three games of the season. There are loads of teams in with a shout now and it is really tightening up.  I think there will be a few teams still in it on the final day, hopefully we're one of them. Gillingham play Millwall on the last day and we go to Wigan so there could be some great excitement to come.

"There could be a couple of changeovers in the play-off places.  It's just been a case of chipping away at the gap. Some clubs have fallen away such as Coventry.  We have pulled in teams like Gillingham, Millwall and Bradford and other teams have come up from behind like Rochdale and Sheffield United.  We're right in the position where we wanted to be."

Heckingbottom praised his players and said the pressure of a tight promotion race is not a problem. "Everyone knows our lads will give it everything in the last three games. They have shown they are a special group.  At the moment things are going our way and we have to roll with it and hope we get the points required.  We're genuinely excited about it, not feeling pressure. We know there is pressure but we have tried to embrace that and not pretend that it isn't there.

"The reason we had put big expectations on games is that we hoped we would be in contention come the end of the season. Where we are now is a credit to players, their work rate and effort and we need to keep that adrenaline and spirit to get us over the line. It would be great if they could get that final reward. We just want to ride it out now and hopefully it goes to the end of May then everyone can be relaxed, ideally after a promotion."