Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke was delighted to finish a ‘good week’ with a comfortable 2-0 win at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

Jon Russell and Max Watters netted either side of half-time in a game the Reds controlled. The victory followed a win at Blackpool a week earlier then a midweek draw at home to Charlton.

Clarke said: “It’s been a good week of three good performances and seven points. We were disappointed not to win on Tuesday but this was a good response. We were pretty dominant first half, got the goals then saw the game out well. They were good times to score.

“We’ve lost points from winning positions this season but the players have learned from that.

“We could have scored more but we were professional while still trying to score more goals.

“I hate complacency and that was my biggest fear today but we weren’t complacent at all.”

Russell opened the scoring with his first of the season on the stroke of half-time. Clarke said: “It’s a great finish by Jon who has come into the team in the last three games and done excellent. He was worthy of a goal because he hit the bar the other day and had one off the line.”

Russell added: “I want to get in the right areas for set pieces. It was a long toe and I got it in the net.

“It was a tough one. I just thought ‘let me just get something on it’ and luckily it went in. We do it in training, being effective and switched on. It was great timing and great to come it at half-time buzzing.”

Watters’ goal was his second of the week following an injury. Clarke said: “I am delighted for Max. He showed really good form at the start of the season. He’s done really well. I didn’t want to risk him after his injury but he’s had a good 55 minutes and scored a cracking goal.

“Special mention for Georgie Gent who has also been excellent.”

Clarke dropped goalkeeper Gaga Slonina for Ben Killip. The head coach said: “Gabs is disappointed in the second goal the other day and he’s had one or two moments this season when he perhaps could have done a bit better. But I have massive faith in him. He is young and he’ll learn from this. He will be working hard as he has been in training to try to get the spot back. His reaction was outstanding. He’s honest and understands the decision. He’ll come again because he’s a top ‘keeper.”

It was a fifth away win from seven games this season. Clarke said: “Five away wins is fantastic but we want to turn home draws into wins. We thank the travelling support who came in their numbers and we sent them home happy again.”

Clarke said Adam Phillips has bruising on his Achilles but hoped he would not be out for long and said the same for Sam Cosgrove who was out with a bad back.