Managers quotes after Oakwell showdown

Last updated : 11 November 2002 By Michael Morris

"Credit to Barnsley, they were up for this game big-time. This was probably their best performance for two years". Other teams will raise their game against Cardiff, as I keep telling my players."

"You can't defend at setpieces like we did today and expect to come away with a win, no matter what level you play at". We came back twice and at that point you would have thought lessons have been learned. But it happened again and you're not going to come back a third time.

"When we lost at Blackpool a few weeks ago that was down to our attitude. We didn't lose today because of our attitude, we lost because of a simple inability to defend. We looked all right going forward and we might have snatched a point, but it would probably have been less than we deserved.

"Before this game we'd conceded one goal from a corner and one goal from a free-kick all season. Today we conceded three from set-pieces. We just couldn't deal with their set-pieces inside our box and we couldn't handle Morgan. They had a game-plan and they buried three goals in our net."


"Wherever Cardiff play in this division they're going to have their hands full because every side wants to beat them. It does make it easier to lift players when you're playing the top-of-the-table side. It's always a challenge to play a side full of good players.

"The Cardiff players came here with a reputation, but reputations count for nothing once you cross that white line on the pitch". My players had to think, `You might cost £1m, but today you're going to be in my pocket.' That's the mentality they showed against Cardiff and we deserved the result because of our sheer will to win.

"I'm not surprised all our goals came from set-pieces. We work hard on set-pieces because they can bring you goals. Today was a great day for us and our supporters were fantastic. I have to give full credit to my players.

"I was disappointed to go in at half-time on level terms with Cardiff. I thought our celebrations for the first goal were a bit over the top with Chris taking off his shirt and swinging it around. We were still celebrating when they went down the other end and scored straight away. There's a time to celebrate and that's in the dressing room. What we did after the first goal was amateurish."