Barnsley skipper fronts up after fan frustration
Luca Connell has accepted that Barnsley supporters had every right to vent their anger after the derby defeat to Doncaster Rovers.
Barnsley are 13th and their top-six hopes have all but gone, which has left a familiar end-of-season mood hanging over Oakwell. Saturday’s loss brought boos at full-time and chants questioning whether the players were fit to wear the shirt, with head coach Conor Hourihane and his team feeling the full force of supporter frustration.
Connell did not duck the issue. Instead, he acknowledged the standards Barnsley fans expect and made it clear the dressing room cannot allow another campaign to tail off in flat and forgettable fashion.
“They’ve got their right to be disappointed,” he said.
“They’re spending their hard-earned money to come and watch us.
“And if we’re not having chances or showing them the attacking football this club demands, then you’re going to get those chants and fans that are going to be negative.
“But it’s down to us to flip them and get them on our side.”
He also warned against letting the season “fizzle out” again, which may be the most telling line of all. Barnsley still have matches left to restore some pride, but the captain’s comments reflect a club where patience has worn thin and where the final weeks need to show more than mere obligation.