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Barnsley boss Michael Duff has brushed off suggestion his team has lost form at a crucial stage of the season.
The Tykes have won four, drawn two and lost four of their last 10 games in League One as they head to the University of Bolton Stadium for a two-legged play-off semi-final.
Sunday’s home defeat against Peterborough prompted a few ripples of concern among supporters but Duff is confident his team can reset.
“They are the same people who said we had no chance this season, that Barnsley are rubbish, there’s no culture and they sell their best players,” he told The Barnsley Chronicle.
“No one gave us a prayer this year. In the last 30 games we would be top of the league. That’s momentum.
“We’ll stick to the process, wire in with concentration and intensity. Hopefully we can deliver two performances against a very good team in Bolton.”
Since beating Bolton in the FA Cup in October, Barnsley have taken 62 points from their next 30 games – level with Sheffield Wednesday, who have played 29 times in that period.
Wanderers have taken the fifth-most points over the last 30 games, with 54, including a 3-0 win at Oakwell on January 2.
Barnsley knew their play-off position was safe a few games before the end of the regular season but Duff says he has seen enough to feel confident his players have not clocked off.
“The performances haven’t been there in the last few games but they have in training,” he said. “There was scuffle in training last week which I think is positive. Nothing silly, but it shows the demand they put on each other. It’s not like we’ve had our sandals on.
“The players know if they are not wired in next week we’ll get beat and it’s been a waste of 10 months.
“I take the emotion out of it. It’s bigger picture thinking. It’s been a brilliant season. The key is to finish it off.”
The three previous meetings this season have produced a mixed bag of results, and Duff says his side should embrace the challenge.
“It’s a tough game but who are you going to play who isn’t tough?” he said.
“We have had three games against them - a win, loss, and draw. They will probably say they are better team than in January and we definitely are. They are a big club, another ex-Premier League club.
“We are looking forward to it now.”
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