Barnsley boss Keith Hill has revealed he cancelled the squad’s midweek day off after the poor 2-0 defeat Burnley on Tuesday night.
As is normal across football, players usually have the day following a match off to recuperate but the Reds boss cancelled it this week to organise a team meeting, in the hope it can galvanise the troops to end a run of just two wins in seven games which has dropped them into 16th place.
Historically Barnsley always perform poorly in the second halves of seasons and so it is proving again in 2011-2012. When the Reds defeated Leeds 4-1 on New Years Eve, they sat 13th and were just six point off the playoffs, but so far in 2012 they have managed to gain just six points from a possible 18 and the top six are now 12 points away.
Hill told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:
"I missed swimming with our Sidney on Wednesday. I reminded the players of what previously made us good and what doesn't work for us.
"It was reassuring to lose against the likes of West Ham in the manner in which we were defeated, but the manner in which we were defeated against Burnley gave me no hope and nothing to grasp as a positive to take into the Portsmouth game.
"I'm not a shouter or a finger-pointer but at times there's a call for it.
The Reds face crisis stricken Portsmouth at Oakwell this afternoon with the South Club reeling from entering administration for the second time in three years yesterday and thus being deducted 10 points which leaves them on the edge of the relegation zone. Portsmouth defeated Barnsley 2-0 back in October, but as of yet, no side has done the double over The Reds this season.