Paul Heckingbottom reacted to seeing his side suffer defeat to Newcastle United at Oakwell.
Two lapses in concentration was all that cost Barnsley against Newcastle United according to Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom.
Dwight Gayle’s double proved enough for the Magpies to edge past the Reds under the lights at Oakwell.
‘Hecky felt the Reds’ effort throughout was excellent but they struggled to find the killer touches at the crucial moments and as such, were punished by the new table toppers.
Having previously played against Gayle, the Head Coach knew the threats he carried and set up to counter them from the start.
He said: “That’s the difference, I remember playing against him when he was at Bishop’s Stortford, I was either playing centre-back or left-back against him and he scored two goals then.
“We were prepared for that, two lapses in concentration have cost us the game and that’s the difference, they gave us absolutely nothing all game.
“We worked our socks off and went toe-to-toe with the top of the league, we were grafting and working for absolutely everything that we could but they gave us nothing.
“They were having to do the same but the two goals were lapses in concentration on our part.”
The Reds are now without a win in their last six league matches but ‘Hecky added that this is not a time for making excuses.
He added that just because the Reds failed to pick up a point against Newcastle, does not mean they are struggling to cope with the Championship.
“You can’t hide behind that excuse because we know we can win in this league and that’s the realisation and what we have to take on board and rise to that challenge.
“They’ve got quality all over and made three changes, took three really good players out and brought three really good players in.
“That’s the situation but it doesn’t mean that we cannot compete just like tonight and on another day we could have got something.”
‘Hecky felt that Adam Jackson made an excellent impression on his Reds debut and praised the work of the centre-half against a strong Newcastle attack.
Captain Conor Hourihane also returned to the side following injury and came through the game unscathed which ‘Hecky was pleased with
“It was a needs-must type and you have to throw them in and see what they’re like and I’m really pleased for Jacko’ on his debut, he looked strong and composed.
“He made good decisions because you have to defend as a team and as a unit. Five of the six goals we’ve conceded previously were all from a lack of cover, organisation and sensing danger, and I thought he coped with that well tonight.
“Conor came through OK which was a big plus. He wanted to play and from the results of the scan, we’re going to try and manage him through it.
“There’s no guarantee we will but ‘Sedge has had experience managing this sort of injury before and he’s confident and they spell the risks out to me beforehand.
“Conor is desperate to play as he is which is great for us but sometimes you have to make that decision for him, but because we have experience with this sort of injury, we’re having a go with him,” he added.