Darrell Clarke praised his Barnsley team’s character after they reacted to conceding an 88th-minute leveller at Burton Albion with a 90th-minute winner.
After Luca Connell’s stunning free-kick was cancelled out, substitute Stephen Humphrys secured the win in epic circumstances.
Clarke said: “It wasn’t pretty at times. In the first half, there was not a lot in the game. We didn’t get our rhythm going but scored a cracking goal from the skipper with a bit of quality.
“In the second half we were better, created more chances on the front foot. Credit to my boys. To go 1-1 when they haven’t created many opportunities then to go up the other end and win it tells me there is decent character in there.
“The boys dug in fantastically well after a tough week. A lot of legs and work went into Tuesday (a 7-0 loss at Manchester United in the cup) because we spent so long without the ball.
“I gave the boys stick on Tuesday and looked for a response. They gave me one.
“We owed the fans one today. They were magnificent again and hopefully we’ve cheered them up.”
Humphrys headed in a a Corey O’Keeffe cross two minutes after the leveller.
Clarke said: “It’s a great header from a great ball. The pleasing thing is we didn’t sulk and go into our shell. We showed the character I want to see at our club. I always ask my teams to have that and play to the final whistle.”
Humphrys added: “I was blowing. I have had two and bit weeks of training. I have tried to get as fit as I can to provide moments like that. It’s what football is all about.
“I knew if I scored I would knee slide in front of the fans and give it some.
“My dad always tells me to get in the six yard box but I am guilty of wanting to score spectacular goals at the edge of the box. It was ball by Corey, (Ryan) Sweeney is a big lad so I had to get a jump on him and the rest is history.
“Their goal was my fault. I filled in a right back for Baz (Barry Cotter, who had cramp) and I let the cross come in. I knew I needed to pull something out after that.”
Connell opened the scoring late in the first half with a low long-range free-kick.
Clarke said: “It’s a great finish. He sees the gap and puts it in. In a half where we were disappointing, it give us something to build on.”
Connell came off midway through the second half.
“It’s not looking too serious. There were real tired legs out there. A third away game in seven days is really tough especially when the second one is at Manchester United.”
Substitute Fabio Jalo went off with another shoulder problem after missing the first month of the season. Clarke said: “It’s a similar issue. It seemed to go straight back in. We will assess it this evening.”
