‘IMPROVEMENT’ is the first word Darrell Clarke uses to describe the first third of Barnsley’s season.
The Reds have played 15 of their 46 games, with 26 points leaving them fifth in the early League One table.
They are unbeaten in five league games and Clarke has praised the better recent performances.
Asked to sum up the season so far, the head coach told the Chronicle: “Improvement. In the first couple of months I was searching for answers and figuring things out. We had some performances that were below the standards I expect.
“We needed to be better and have been but it’s only been five or six games. There is no standing still.
“We want to control more games, score more, create more chances and not give any sloppy goals away.”
Clarke has made just four substitutions in the last three games, having made at least three in all the previous league games – and often the full allocation of five.
The only change he made from the bench on Saturday was to take injured Max Watters off on seven minutes to be replaced by Kelechi Nwakali.
Since the two-week international break in early October, after which performances and results have improved significantly, the head coach appears to be relying on a smaller group of players. The likes of Barry Cotter and Matty Craig – who were regular starters earlier in the season – plus Josh Benson and Fabio Jalo are now barely featuring.
Clarke told the Chronicle: “If I think something is not working, I will change it. I sometimes change it too early and I sometimes get it right.
“I didn’t think Saturday needed a lot of changes. We were creating chance after chance and dominating the ball, we just needed to take chances.
“All the lads are training well. There has to be frustration from players not playing. I expect every player to want to play. I get very uncomfortable if I see a group of players who don’t want to play. But I don’t tolerate sulking, moaning energy-sappers. I can only pick 11 players and I don’t want players creating an atmosphere I don’t want.
“The lads here aren’t doing that.
“The attitude has been very good.”
