Barnsley visit Stevenage

The Reds will need to improve defensively after a first half horror show at the back away at Bolton which saw Barnsley concede three goals in 32 minutes.

Barnsley have now kept the lowest number of clean sheets in English football this season with two and have let in 72 goals in all competitions. 

On defensive issues, Hourihane said: “It’s been a common theme over the season and we’re getting to a stage now where it needs to stop. I’ve been really frustrated with that. The squad know that, the defenders know that, the team knows that over the last couple of days. 

“We do score a lot of goals because we like to attack and we like to play an attacking style of football, but we need to start shoring up the defence because it’s one too many for my liking. 

“Some words were said and we’re looking for a big improvement now moving forward on that.”  

Asked what could be done to improve at the back, Hourihane said: “That will stay in-house, but there has been a lot of conversations over the last few days. I’ve been scratching my head about it all season, to be honest with you. We’ve taken an approach over the last few days, and hopefully that will have an effect over the next kind of block of games. 

“I’m not saying that it’s going to happen straight away, and Stevenage is going to be the perfect defensive performance. I’m hoping obviously there’s going to be a big improvement. There has to be. 

“But hopefully, over the next five or six games, we can see an improvement from that point of view because, if we do that, then we’ll pick up more points than we have been over recent times just because we know we’ve got the ability to win games at the other end of the pitch.” 

In terms of injury news, loanee Tawanda Chirewa missed the Bolton game due to a knock and Hourihane is expecting the 22-year-old to need 7-10 days to recover from it. 

Apart from a couple of bruises here and there, the rest of the squad should be fine. 

Hourihane also acknowledged supporter anguish which has included frustration at the owners of the football club and lack of striker additions. 

The Barnsley Head Coach said “I’m fully aware of the frustrations and I see and hear the noise. 

“I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t. 

“Me and the players need the fans’ support. We need to put in performances that excite the fans as well, without a doubt. 

I think we’ve done that over the last couple of home games, not obviously Bolton, but I think from our home performances point of view, I think they’ve been decent and exciting a lot of people and we need to start doing that away from home that bit more, and then obviously we’ve got two exciting home games on the horizon after Stevenage.” 

In terms of Stevenage, since their visit to Oakwell on Saturday 31 January, they lost 3-1 away at Northampton on Saturday. 

The Boro are very difficult to beat on their own patch in the league this season however, only losing once in front of their own fans which was against league leaders Cardiff. 

They have also conceded just seven goals at the Lamex Stadium this campaign in League One, the best home defensive record in the division. 

If Barnsley can win it will be their first victory at Stevenage, having lost both of their previous visits in the last two seasons. 

The gruelling schedule also doesn’t stop for the Reds after Tuesday, as they host Wimbledon on Saturday 14 February, before hosting Peterborough on Tuesday 17 February which is followed by a Yorkshire derby away at Huddersfield on Saturday 21 February.