BARNSLEY head coach Neill Collins lauded his replacements for helping to spark a strong second-half response after the Reds were forced to pick up the pieces following an abysmal first half in which they conceded three early goals against Portsmouth.
The hosts were brought to the cleaners in the first half, with Pompey scoring three times in an eight-minute stretch following an abysmal, damning, and rudderless start.
Barnsley, with Callum Styles, Sam Cosgrove, and Owen Dodgson introduced at the break, with Corey O’Keefe also making an impression, improved significantly after the restart.
Arry Cotter equalized early in the second period, and Styles’ 77th-minute header set up a thrilling climax.
But Pompey held out for three points and moved top of the table on goal difference following a 3-2 verdict
On his triple change at the break, Collins, who brought off John McAtee, Jon Russell and Nicky Cadden, said: “It was easier to make that decision based on who we knew we could bring on. I didn’t want to make change for change’s sake, but changes I felt we needed
“We needed someone of Sam’s stature and Styles’s energy and the other players brought the things we expected them to do.”
“It is important we don’t take anything out of proportion, and I say that with both halves of football,” he said of his team’s performance.
“I think the one minute between the first and second goals really affected us, and within one minute, you’re 2-0 down and the game hasn’t had a chance to shape up.”
“The second goal was schoolboy stuff, not tactical, but decision-making, and we need to look at not making that decision (again) in basic moments of the game.”
“I learned a lot, and there are a few things we need to look into because we can’t start a game like that by giving away a couple of basic goals.”
“But there were positives about the team, and we persevered until the bitter end, and some of the situations we encountered could have easily resulted in us sitting here with a point.”
Collins was booked in the first half for his complaints when referee Lewis Smith failed to point to the penalty spot after Cotter was brought down in the box.For the majority of the night, the Lancashire official incurred the fury of the Oakwell crowd.
“With those two decisions,” Collins explained, “I just thought, based on the decision given against us as a penalty, that it looked like a penalty.”However, I was reminded that Barnsley do not receive penalties. We’re only due one per season.”
