DARRELL Clarke says performances must improve if Barnsley are to maintain their lofty position in the early League One table and that they are ‘nowhere near the finished article.’

The Reds won 2-1 at Burton Albion on Saturday, thanks to a 90th-minute header from summer signing Stephen Humphrys, having conceded seconds earlier.

That moved them up to third with 13 points from seven games, three points behind top two Wrexham and Birmingham City.

They now host Stockport County tomorrow from 7.45pm then Wycombe Wanderers at the same time on Tuesday evening.

Clarke, who was appointed in the summer, has had almost a full month working with his squad since the transfer window shut. Three of the last four weeks have not included a midweek match, giving him extra time to work on the training pitch.

Clarke told the Chronicle: “It’s becoming more like my squad but there is so much to do. We’re nowhere near the finished article. Thirteen points from seven games is a good solid start but we have to improve our performances. I don’t know how long that will take. But we also have to find a way to win like on Saturday.

“The more we train and play together, and spend time together, the better.

“It’s too early to think about the table. I am concentrating on getting performances top-notch. We have shown good performances and good mentality in some games, and in other games we haven’t.

“We have to keep working on all aspects because it’s a tough league this year with a lot of Championship and even Premier League clubs in the mix and a lot of financial investment.”

The Reds had not won at home for six months from February but beat Sheffield United in the EFL Cup then Bristol Rovers in the league, in the last two Oakwell matches.

They were then beaten 3-0 at Stevenage and 7-0 at Manchester United in the cup before Saturday’s victory in Staffordshire.

Clarke said: “Home form is important and we want to keep it going.

“But consistency of performance is most important and then the results will take care of themselves.”

Josh Benson has come off the bench in the last three league games after missing the start of the season.

The midfielder – whose four-year contract expires next summer – has suffered with a series of injuries in recent years.

He started just one league game last season and has only started three since October 2022.

Clarke said: “Josh is knocking on the door. He’s come on and done really well. There is good competition in that area with Josh, Jon Russell and Kelechi (Nwakali) as well.”

Russell is also yet to start a league game under Clarke.

The Jamaica international has not played in any of the four games this month – one because he was away with the Reggae Boyz – and was not in the matchday squad on Saturday.

Clarke said: “I can’t fit them all in. I like an attack-minded bench. Jon went away with Jamaica for the international period, Josh Benson stepped in and did really well. It’s difficult in that area which is our most serious competition for places.”

Defender Conor McCarthy has not played a league game for the Reds for more than two years after an ACL injury then a loan to Swindon.

The Irishman played the second half against Manchester United last week in the cup then was on the bench on Saturday at Burton – his first appearance in the Reds’ league matchday squad in a year and 362 days.

Clarke said: “Conor has knocked on my door a couple of times. I like to see it. He knows what he’s working on, he’s getting clarity on that. It’s a case of when he plays not if, because there will be opportunities for everyone this season.”

None of Barnsley’s strikers have netted more than once in the league this season, with Max Watters and Sam Cosgrove starting regularly early on before being joined by deadline day signings Davis Keillor-Dunn and Humphrys. Clarke said: “A lot of my teams have had strikers who scored 20 goals or nearly. We create a lot of opportunities.

“It’s always a team effort and I don’t really care where the goals come from.

“A few of them have been good in patches and a few have had off days. But that is the same as our defenders as well.”

Meanwhile, youngsters Josiah Dyer and Kieren Flavell have been loaned out to Gainsborough Trinity and Mickleover Sports respectively.