COREY O’Keeffe says Barnsley ‘hit the reset button’ during their two-week break from league action before this week’s games.
The Reds had a fortnight away from league games following a 2-0 loss at Huddersfield Town in which they were very poor. They have since won at Blackpool and drawn at home to Charlton with improved performances.
Wing-back O’Keeffe told the Chronicle: “We had a meeting as soon as we came in after the Huddersfield game and the gaffer said ‘it’s time to hit the reset button now’ and just go again.
“We have done a lot of training sessions. We watched the last few games back and worked on bits we need to do better.”
O’Keeffe praised the impact of veteran defender Marc Roberts who scored a last-minute winner at Blackpool on Saturday. He said: “Last year, I feel we would have lost games like Blackpool in the last minute.
“He’s a big voice at the back and talks us through everything. Then for him to come up with big goals is brilliant.
“I knew him from Birmingham. He was like that there even though it was an older dressing room. He speaks to everyone before games. You need that. It can come from staff but, when it comes from a player who has been there and done it, it’s massive.”
O’Keeffe has been back at right wing-back in the starting 11 this week, having lost his place to Barry Cotter for most of the season – forcing the former Birmingham man either onto the left or on the bench. He said: “I want to play as many games as possible and string as many starts together as possible. Sometimes I might find myself on the bench, it’s just about how you react and come on to help the team whether it’s five minutes or half an hour.”
On his right wing-back choices, head coach Darrell Clarke said: “They are two different types. Barry is quick, Corey is good in the build-up and making sure we look after it to get up the pitch.
“Barry had a really strong start but, like a lot of players, performances dipped in the last three or four weeks.
“Corey got his opportunity and had a very good game at Blackpool.”
