BARNSLEY captain Luca Connell has urged fans to ‘stick with us’ during a difficult run but admits the team must perform significantly better.
The Reds have not won any of their last three league games, with disappointing performances, and have faced criticism from supporters and their head coach Darrell Clarke.
They now have two weeks without a league game until they visit Blackpool on October 19. The 23-year-old skipper told the Chronicle: “The message to the fans is to keep supporting us.
“We are grateful for the support but we know, inside our changing room, we’ve got to give them more.
“The fans will be behind us, they always are at this club, and we don’t take that for granted.
“As long as they stick with us, things will turn.
“It will be a couple of weeks of hard work on the training pitch. We’ve got to put things right.”
The Reds are 11th in the early League One table.
Connell said: “Fifteen points from ten doesn’t sound the worst.
“But we can get more points out of those games.
“Against Stockport, we conceded late and, against Northampton, we gave up two goals too easy. That’s the story of what’s been going on.
“It feels like we have to score two or three goals to win a game and it shouldn’t have to be like that.”
Connell has netted twice this season, doubling his total tally for the Reds early in his third campaign, as well as assisting two other goals and being in the top five in the division for creating chances. He has been playing alongside holding midfielder Matty Craig, which frees him up to go forward more. He said: “I have scored two goals which is my most in a season for Barnsley.
“But obviously I want more.
“I am playing a little bit higher up so I want more goals and assists and to bring more to the team. I am sure that will come.
“The way the gaffer sets us up, he likes Matty in there and he gets us playing when he can. Being higher up gives me a chance to express what I can do going forward.”
Barnsley lost 2-0 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday. The Terriers are coached by Michael Duff and Martin Paterson – the Reds coaches in Connell’s first Oakwell season – and they brought on his former midfield partner Herbie Kane who assisted the opener.
“It was nice to see the faces and speak to them after the game. But, after that result, you’re not exactly in the mood for being friends with people and being nice to them.”
