Head coach Darrell Clarke praised goalscorer Jon Russell as his Barnsley side earned a 2-0 home victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham.
Russell netted first for the hosts before Stephen Humphrys came off the bench to double the lead and send the Tykes up to fourth place in League One.
Clarke said: “I think we’ve had some good performances. I thought tonight was a good night, winning a derby at home.
“I think we played some really good stuff, especially in the first half. We created chances and were a little unlucky not to go in a couple ahead at the break.
“Davis Keillor-Dunn had a great header on the stroke of half time.
“We’ve had to defend well. Rotherham were always going to come at us a bit, but Ben Killip’s pulled off a great save (to keep us in front) and then we got that vital second.
On the performance of Russell, Clarke said: “Jon is doing tremendously, playing higher up the pitch as an eight. I think he’s a better eight that can drop into the six position at times and he’s getting his rewards.
“He’s getting chances in games, getting good control for us with the ball and deserves all the plaudits.”
Praising his coaching staff, Clarke said: “Conor (Hourihane), (Jon) Stead, Martin Devaney, we all have areas that we work on.
“I’ve got a good backroom team and we’re just chipping away, working away, set-pieces, defending set-pieces. We work well together as a team and we have to continue the good work.”
Rotherham manager Steve Evans reflected on a start that promised much.
He said: “We started the game really well. I think for the first 20 minutes we were the better side.
“We were pressing them, we were being creative, we were getting into the final third with ease. The Millers support were on their feet because they’re seeing a really good performance.
“For some reason it’s almost like a switch. We conceded a goal from a set play which we’ll look back at, but we’ve been outmuscled as we have a couple of times already this season.
“From that moment until half time I thought it was difficult for us – we worked hard, had the opportunity to go in at 1-0 and try and change it with a bit of width, pace and flare on the pitch.
“When Jack Holmes came on we had 15 minutes where we were really good. We missed a huge chance. Goals change games at every level of football and we miss a huge chance – I don’t think the goalkeeper knows anything about it.
“We should score and then we got into a bit of a groundhog situation trying to create something. It’s just a defensive mistake and a really good finish (for their second goal).”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
