DARRELL Clarke admits he and his Barnsley players still need to prove they can compete for the top six in League One this season but added: ‘the spirit in the camp is fantastic.’
The Reds have collected 15 points from their first ten games – the fewest at that stage in their last four seasons at League One level since Lee Johnson was in charge in 2015. They lost 2-0 at Huddersfield Town in the league on Saturday, leaving them 11th in the table.
They returned to Huddersfield, managed by former Reds head coach Michael Duff, on Tuesday for another 2-0 defeat in the EFL Trophy and are now in an 11-day break before their next game at Blackpool in the league on October 19.
There have often been two training sessions per day and the squad will be in both days over the weekend.
Barnsley have not won in four games since a 2-1 success at Burton Albion on September 21 which is the only victory in seven matches in all competitions.
Clarke told the Chronicle: “The nature of the beast now is everyone wants results straight away. I have had two months of competitive games.
“If you look at my previous record at other clubs, it takes me more than two months to build what I want.
“The players need to improve their levels to be competitive.”
Clarke has criticised his players during a series of poor performances.
He told the Chronicle: “I have said I expected more from the players, even when we were winning games.
“I have said enough of that now.
“It’s up to the players and myself to show we can be up there in the top six.
“It’s a league which is unforgiving if you are as sloppy as we are at times and don’t get the flow going forward.
“I can’t legislate for easy passes going out of play and people not taking responsibility.
“It’s not just one player, because you can just take them out of the team.
“But the quality needs to be better.”
Has the break from league fixtures come at a good time?
“We will see, but it needs to be.
“No one has picked their shirt for Blackpool.
“They will have a tough couple of weeks in training to get to the levels they need to be.”
Asked what the Reds will be working on in training during the international break, Clarke said: “All aspects of our game. We have had a couple of disappointing weeks.
“There are a lot of aspects I am not pleased with.
“We will have some hard sessions working through the thirds with and without the ball, getting things nailed down to make sure we perform to the levels I think we are capable of getting to.”
Clarke says the mood around Oakwell has not been impacted by recent performances and results.
“The spirit in the camp is fantastic. The lads are a close bunch.
“They have had some hard words off me recently, they took it on the chin very well and they are getting on with it.
“They are not hiding which is the beauty of it.
“We haven’t got a large amount of experience but they will learn and grow, without a doubt.”
Asked for his assessment of the opening ten games, Clarke said: “There are loads of areas to improve.
“I am not the sort of guy who will paper over cracks.
“15 points puts us is a challenging position but I expected and want more.
“We can’t accept that and the players don’t accept it either.
“That’s a positive.
“There were a few words said after the game on Saturday.”
After visiting Blackpool a week on Saturday, the Reds will host Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, October 22.
They then complete their October fixtures with a match at Shrewsbury Town and a home EFL Trophy game against Doncaster Rovers on the 29th.
Meanwhile, Barnsley’s league game at home to Reading has been rearranged for Saturday, November 30.
If either of the clubs progress to the second round of the FA Cup, which is that weekend, then the game will instead be played on Tuesday, November 26.
The match was due to take place tomorrow but was called off due to international call-ups for the Royals.
The club are due to host a fans’ forum on October 23 with chief executive Jon Flatman, sporting director Mladen Sormaz and chairman Neerav Parekh.
