We would probably still have to win the last five games

It looked as though Barnsley were trying to put some pressure on the referee to call it off at half time with them behind and Davey was certainly not happy. "I thought the conditions were very poor," he said. The referee said that he would give the game five minutes after half time but the rain stopped although that made no difference to the pitch.

"Having said that we played for ninety minutes and we are very disappointed not to have got something from the game. Dennis Souza was off the pitch and to concede twice during that time was very disappointing.

"It was not an old injury for Dennis. He had stitches in his eyelid last weekend but has stud marks on his face that needed more today. He has not had the best of luck with stitches in the last few games.

"We were right in the game. Jon Macken has been through and seen his shot saved. Daniel Nardiello has gone clean through and his effort was saved, although the referee has not given a corner. We created enough chances as the away team to deserve a lot more than what we got."

Barnsley are 20^th in the table and just one point above the drop zone and speaking about the situation down at the bottom Davey added: "We are still confident and we have six matches remaining. We will turn it around. We are very confident that we will pick up the points we need. We have to."

After losing the two previous games against Wolves and Preston it was a happy Owen Coyle who spoke after the game, and he was relieved that the game was allowed to finish. "There were some reservations at half time, but I was just trying to keep the minds focused," he said.

"When you sow that seed of doubt it can affect you and my job was to keep the players focused. Fortunately for us, the rain let up, allowing us to finish and the result certainly keeps our season going.

"We have never made any claims about what we are going to do, but we are still in their fighting. I thought we fully merited the win today and the level of performance in tricky conditions was very pleasing.

"Barnsley are not in the semi-finals of the FA Cup by accident. They are a good side and they showed that, especially in the second half. I was just disappointed to allow them back into the game, but the ethic and endeavour and quality the lads showed was very pleasing."

He knows just how much we would still need to do to get into the play offs and added: "Anything other than a win would not have been good enough. We would probably still have to win the last five games because someone will go on a run. But we are definitely capable of winning games and we are enjoying it.

"There are a lot of clubs who spent more than us in January so for us to still be in there speaks volumes for the players."

Coyle elected to play Kyle Lafferty as a striker and he explained: "I decided to change the system and play Kyle through the middle and I have to say he showed what he has to offer. He is a talented lad and he would be the first to admit that after the January transfer window closed he lost his way for a while in terms of performance.

"I sat down with him and explained that all good will come on the back of him playing well for the football club and he has got his head around that. He only came off because he has had a niggling calf strain for a few weeks, so I am delighted with his performance.

As for Wade, I am hoping to bring some talented players to the club and develop what I have got, but I don't think I will make a more important signing than him. If he had walked in the summer, which would have been easy to do on a Bosman, he would have cost us over £1 million to replace. He certainly helps in terms of the jigsaw I want to put in place over the next few years."