Darrell Clarke was glad his Barnsley side improved on their weekend display in a 2-2 draw with Reading on Tuesday but added: “the good performance counts for nothing if you’re not clinical in both boxes.”
The Reds were much better than in the 1-0 home loss to Wigan on Saturday but missed a series of chances with the visitors netting from their only opportunities.
After Davis Keillor-Dunn opened the scoring, Reading went 2-1 up before Josh Earl levelled.
Head coach Clarke told the Chronicle: “It’s a great frustration. A lot of our play was good but we have to do better in the final third - better crosses and finishing.
“In our last two home games we’ve conceded four shots on target and conceded three goals. “We had a lot of dominance and not got the points so it’s very frustrating for the fans, players and staff.
“The good performance counts for nothing if you’re not clinical in both boxes.
“We will keep working, keep believing and keep trying to improve on the training ground.”
On the Reading goals, Clarke said: “They scored a deflection for the first one. It hits the lad and goes in. The second one, we can do better.”
Barnsley showed resilience to level at 2-2. Clarke said: “I have no problem with my lads’ character. I was pleased I kept with the same team after Wigan because the performance tonight warranted it.
“But the frustrating home form continues with too many draws.”
Vice-captain Marc Roberts added: “It seems to be a running theme at home. For all the pressure and balls we put in their box, we didn’t have the quality in the final third and conceded a couple of sloppy goals.
“At home it just doesn’t seem to be dropping for us. It sometimes feels you are on the end of a bit of bad luck. But we can’t have too many excuses, it’s probably just poor from us as a group.
“At least we’ve come back and got a point, it’s character from the lads to keep going. The intensity and performance levels were better from the Wigan game when we were disappointed.
“As long as the performance levels stay at a good level I have no doubt the results will turn at home. Obviously we have really good form away so, as long as we keep hold of that, we will be in the right place.”
