MAEL de Gevigney says qualifying for the League One play-offs was a ‘release’ for Barnsley’s players after a poor end to the league season.

The Reds won just two of their last 12 games, and none of their final six, but finished sixth and will face Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals.

French defender de Gevigney told the Chronicle: “It’s a release.

“Maybe it will help us to think about the next games and not the last games.

“We’ve been in a tough moment.

“We were in bad form. But we showed on Saturday we were focused.

“We showed we know what we have to do.

“We need to be better than in that game but I think we will be OK.”

De Gevigney worked closely with head coach Neill Collins who was sacked last week and replaced by caretaker Martin Devaney who looks likely to oversee the play-off games.

“That’s football. Everything can change in one day.

“You have to adapt.

“Davvers has been at the club for many years.

“He knows how to play here.

“We know him and he knows how to talk to us.

“We will work hard with him.”

De Gevigney joined from Nimes last summer and will compete in the play-offs at the end of his first campaign in English football.

“First season, first play-offs. It’s a really good feeling.

“I can’t wait to play these games and discover Wembley, maybe.

“We played well against Bolton in both games but didn’t beat them.

“Maybe we have to be better. We conceded two against them late on (in the home draw after leading 2-0).

“They have really good players and it will be tough.”

Barnsley conceded a late equaliser from set piece against Northampton, a common trend in recent weeks.

De Gevigney said: “It’s really frustrating. We were never really in danger during the game.

“But we have conceded a few from set pieces. We have to change and be better. It’s about the mindset, concentrating on every ball.”