Barnsley: Strong, risky Darrell Clarke action proves masterstroke - View | OneFootball

After suffering humiliating back to back defeats, Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke lay down the law to his players and it worked

After suffering back-to-back defeats in the league and Carabao Cup last week with a combined aggregate of 10-0, Darrell Clarke laid down the law – using the press to urge his players to stop being “flaky” and having a “soft under belly” when his Barnsley side visited Burton Albion on Saturday.

His players responded, grinding out a 2-1 victory and showing some guts, hitting a 90th-minute winner after Burton drew level just two minutes earlier and appeared to have snatched a point.

Clarke is demanding of his players

Barnsley players can be in no doubt what their manager expects of them under his stewardship. In recent interviews, Clarke has called his players “flaky” and said they had a “soft underbelly”, traits he claims are not becoming of his teams. The evidence has been clear for all to see within the opening games of the League One season that Clarke had a point.

Throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Northampton Town in August followed, a couple of days later, doing the same against Manchester United under 21s in the EFL Cup, losing the game 2-3.

Despite preparing in training for a visit to Stevenage by defending balls into their box in readiness for the aerial battle with The Boro, Barnsley conceded three second-half goals, all of which were from crosses into the Barnsley penalty area.

To capitulate on the biggest stage at Old Trafford in front of the Sky cameras 7-0 was the final straw for Clarke, who claimed that the performance was unacceptable, and he demanded a response at Burton, especially for the supporters who traveled to Manchester United in numbers and backed their team vocally all game.

Barnsley heads didn’t drop at Burton

In a tight and uninspiring game on Saturday, Barnsley set about their task of bouncing back from those two heavy defeats. Luca Connell put the Reds ahead in the first half with a long-range free-kick. After the break, Barnsley controlled the game much better with goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina having little to do.

Despite controlling the second half and appearing to see the game out with a tight 1-0 victory, Barnsley switched off and Jack Cooper-Love headed a leveler with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Barnsley players' could have felt sorry for themselves and allowed their heads to drop, appearing to throw away two points from a commanding position.

Thankfully, this was not the case. The Reds dusted themselves down and a quality Corey O’Keeffe cross was met by substitute Stephen Humphrys, who scored his first goal in Barnsley colours in front of a jubilant away end.

Scoring in the 90th minute showed the resolve Clarke had demanded, meaning Barnsley finished the day in third position in the league table and put smiles back on the faces of Reds fans.

The manager has been vocal in interviews about what he expects from his teams and has been unapologetic in being so open. Equally, Clarke came out post-match on Saturday and praised his side's mentality after winning the game so late on.

Criticising players in public is risky and can backfire but it appears to have done the opposite. Supporters enjoy Clarke’s passion and demands of his side and the players appear to be responding.

Tougher tests are around the corner with games against Stockport County and Huddersfield, but for now, Barnsley have shown the steel demanded by Darrell Clarke. His comments in the week appear to be a masterstroke in getting the best out of his players.