Darrell Clarke knows Barnsley ‘need to find form quick’ to arrest their slide down the League One table but is still aiming for the top six.

The Reds have picked up just a point from five games, a run which has taken them from fifth to tenth and they are four points away from the top six play-off places.

Clarke had been confident that his side were playing generally well for several months, even if results did not always reflect that, but admits that is no longer the case.

He told the Chronicle: “The performances have dropped off, very much. There was a lack of confidence in the first half on Saturday, with the formation not helping. We are capable of a lot better. “There are 16 games to go. We are slipping down the pecking order and need to find form quick.

“I have said all along the aim is top six. I will continue to fight for that and keep the players believing. We will just try to win the next one.”

Clarke is low on strikers due to illness and injury, with the Reds looking to bring in a free agent. He had 20-year-old Josiah Dyer on the bench for Saturday’s loss at Stockport but did not give him his league debut, instead using wing-back Neil Farrugia up front.

“Josiah is training OK. But Neil showed glimpses up front in the week, he’s looked lively, and he’s played there for Shamrock.”