Darrell Clarke admits there is still hard work left for Barnsley

Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke acknowledged that his team still have a lot of hard work to do despite ending 2024 with a hugely impressive 3-1 win at 10-man Peterborough.

The Tykes notched a deserved eighth away win of the campaign, one which leaves them just a point and a place outside the League One play-off zone.

Clarke said: “It was a good performance.

“We were in control for the first 30 minutes, but we were lacking that end product.

“In the second half we regrouped, and that was needed because at half-time it was important that I got the message over to the players.

“We then produce two quality finishes to go two up soon after half-time, and that gave us a nice cushion.

“At 2-0 we then let them back in it, though, and I wasn’t happy about that. We just seemed to ease off a bit.

“We did go on and get a third, but I’ve told the players previously that we do need to be more ruthless and not take out foot off the gas when we’re in front.

“We’ve lost some silly points because of that.

“We know there’s still a lot of work to do, mentally and physically.

“We’re creating opportunities which is good, but we have to make sure than we’re not loose at the same time.”

After a goalless first half, two strikes in eight minutes shortly after the restart handed Barnsley the initiative.

Donovan Pines broke the deadlock, firing home on the turn, before Davis Keillor-Dunn doubled the visitors’ advantage when he smashed home clinically.

Posh reduced the arrears from the spot through Malik Mothersille, but their cause was not helped soon after when Harley Mills was shown a red card after a challenge on Corey O’Keeffe.

Jon Russell curled home Barnsley’s third late on, condemning Peterborough to a troubling sixth defeat in seven League One games.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “At 2-1 we were back in the game, but then the referee gives an embarrassing decision and that put us on the back foot again.

“It was an atrocious decision.

“He’ll be embarrassed with that one I’m sure.

“We’d started the game quite nervy, but we changed things around a bit and grew into it I thought.

“We’d handled their set-pieces well, and by half-time the lads had pretty much done what I asked.

“We just needed that bit of quality in front of goal.

“It was an appalling way to start the second half, though.

“Conceding two goals like that left us with a mountain to climb.

“We knew Barnsley are good on the road, but it’s got to be about us getting back to basics.

“That is what we need to focus on.

“I can’t fault the lads’ effort or commitment, but we need to stay competitive in terms of tackling, running and defending set-pieces.”