KEITH Hill has not lost faith in his drive to haul Barnsley out of the Championship relegation zone.
Saturday’s cruel 1-0 South Yorkshire derby defeat to Sheffield Wednesday means the Reds have now not won in their last 11 outings.
And Hill has stressed he is standing behind his struggling players as they try and turn around their season.
“It’s very difficult to digest the run of results we’ve had, but I’ve not lost belief in the players and my ability to turn it around,” Hill told The Star.
“I’ve not witnessed the players down in the dumps. We know results need to change and we all hate losing, but I can’t criticise the players because they’ve been magnificent. They’ve given me everything.
“It’s important everybody is fighting together - and that’s been the case.
“It’s a lonely place at the best of times when you’re a manager, but when you’re losing it’s even more lonely.
“We’re trying everything to change things, but I’ve never doubted my ability and the goal remains to retain our Championship status.
“I do believe in myself and I do believe in the players, I don’t doubt that we can change things.
“We were really unlucky not to get something against Sheffield Wednesday, but when you’re down there decisions seem to go against you. You don’t get the luck.”
Referee Stuart Attwell’s controversial decision not to award a foul on keeper Luke Steele led to Chris O’Grady, one of Hill’s former players, netting the Owls’ winning goal in the first half at Oakwell.
“The ramifications of that decision could be massive, but at the end of the day I take full responsibility for the results and I’m frustrated as anyone with our form,” added Hill.
“But I don’t think we’re that far away from getting the results we want..”
Experienced Reds’ defender Stephen Foster admitted on his Twitter account that he was lucky not to get sent-off on Saturday after an ill-timed challenge on Owls’ striker Gary Madine.
Foster tweeted: “Just seen my tackle from Saturday’s game for first time and I have to hold my hands up and admit I was very lucky to stay on the pitch. Despite how it looks I would never deliberately attempt to injure a fellow professional. It was just very badly mistimed.”
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