Barnsley: Team spirit key for Reds, says Isgrove

The Reds stunned the Saddlers 6-1 on aggregate, with Thursday night’s 3-1 win completing the job following a fine 3-0 victory at Oakwell last weekend.

Isgrove got an assist and fellow wing wizard Adam Hammill scored one and set up another as they both proved to be constant threats in the final third.

Southampton loanee Isgrove, aged 23, reckons it’s a mark of his side’s team spirit that they dominated two legs of football against strong opposition after turning their season on its head.

“I think it’s really important you’re close and tight off the pitch,” said the Wales international.

“You take that on to the pitch, and we’ve been doing well and getting the results we deserve. We’re a tight group.

“I joined when we were 19th and losing a lot, and we turned it around. It’s crazy what we’ve done as a group of lads, and if we win at Wembley again it will be fantastic

The Reds triumphed in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final at the national stadium earlier this seasonn.

Isgrove went on: “It shows we’re a really tight unit as a team. We had a game-plan and stuck to it, got the three goals and only conceded one at the end, so we’re delighted.

“We just wanted to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding, turn them early and play in the final third. We got the early goal so that settled us down and we didn’t look back after that.

“It was great to set one up right at the end in front of the fans, I’m delighted.”

The Reds’ previous trip to Wembley will still be fresh in the memory - their thrilling 3-2 victory over Oxford in the JPT was less than seven weeks ago.

Isgrove insists that the significance of the League One Play-off Final will far outweigh that occasion.

“It’s way bigger,” he said. “The prize at the end of it is massive. To get promoted and get Barnsley back where they should be would be amazing.

“We’re going to go into the game full of confidence from these two games and these two performances.

“It was probably one of the best days of my life in the JPT Final. To start and play most of the game was a really good occasion.

“It’s hard to put into words. It’s just amazing. It’s a fantastic day from start to finish.”

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