BARNSLEY captain Luca Connell says being dropped by Conor Hourihane was ‘a kick up the behind which maybe I need’.

Connell and fellow midfield regular Adam Phillips were taken out of the 11 for two games with interim boss Hourihane saying their performances had not been ‘up to scratch.’

Connell was praised for his reaction to the decision and, after coming off the bench against Wigan and Exeter, started at Birmingham on Saturday.

He told the Chronicle: “These setbacks happen in football.

“I haven’t been at my best recently.

“Con gave me a kick up the behind which maybe I need.

“I think I played well at certain times at Birmingham.

“It’s up to me to respond in the last five games.”

Barnsley look certain to finish in mid-table. Connell said: “We have to make sure we’re doing it for the fans and especially for Conor because he puts the work in for us.

“We have to make sure we’re working hard. We don’t take the fans supporting us for granted.

“We want to make sure we put the football club in the best possible position at the end of the season.”

On working under Hourihane, Connell said: “I worked close to him under Darrell Clarke.

“He has a lot on his plate now but I can go to him with any question. It’s been good.”

Barnsley are now due to host Connell’s former club Bolton on Saturday.

“It’s another massive game but they are the games you want to play in.

“We go again, they will bring a lot of fans.

“We have to perform a little bit better than against Birmingham.”

On the 6-2 loss at St Andrew’s, Connell said: “We showed character which is something to take but that has to be a given every week.

“You can’t give those type of goals away and expect to get something

“It’s not something the coaches can tell us. We need to cut the mistakes out and be better.”