Valerien Ismael disappointed by Barnsley display against Rotherham United despite closing in on play-off place

Barnsley's Carlton Morris celebrates with team mates after scoring the only goal of the game against Rotherham United. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Carlton Morris’ disputed early goal was enough to secure victory for Barnsley but the performance was far from that which has seen the South Yorkshire outfit earn so many plaudits in their suprising rise up the Championship table.

Ismael said afterwards: “It was a really, really poor performance. We got the three points, which I think is the most important thing.

“Big congratulations to Rotherham – they deserved more than losing the game.

“It was the expected fight. Maybe we scored too early. We never came into the game and we were always too late.

“Our decision-making was too slow. At the end of the day, in two weeks, nobody will speak about that performance. It’s all about getting the three points and we did it.

“When you are in a season when everything goes in the right direction, you win such a game.

“I didn’t see the situation from my angle (for the goal) but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter now, we have the three points.

“We are not over the line just now. We will see if it’s enough or if we have to get the next point.”

One more point would almost certainly secure a play-off place, with Preston and Norwich to come in Barnsley’s final two games.