[BFC SITE] Hourihane: Fans deserved the win

Conor Hourihane was full of pride and satisfaction following Barnsley’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Oakwell on Saturday afternoon.


The result marked Hourihane’s first win since taking on the role of Interim Head Coach, and the performance was one that left the former Reds midfielder beaming.

“It’s a fantastic result,” he said. “Full credit has to go to the players – they were outstanding today. I’ve asked a lot of them over the last five or six games, and everything just came together really nicely. I’m so proud of the group. They’ve stayed consistent, stuck to the work we’ve been doing, and today was a real reward for that.”

Barnsley’s performance was dominant from start to finish against a Bolton side chasing a play-off spot. The Reds looked organised, energetic, and purposeful both on and off the ball - something Hourihane has clearly been striving to instil.

“It’s massively important to be just as effective without the ball as you are with it,” he continued. “The best teams work hard off the ball, they play with intensity and purpose. I asked a lot of the midfielders today - tracking runners, keeping their shape - and the wingers too, in terms of pressing angles and execution. We forced Bolton into three changes in the first half alone, which says a lot about how strong our start was.”

The Oakwell crowd were treated to a complete display from their side - one that Hourihane felt was well overdue, particularly at home.

“It’s been tough for the fans, especially in recent years with the home form and everything surrounding the COVID period. So I’m delighted they got to enjoy a win like that at Oakwell, against a really strong side. They deserved it.”

Two players who certainly caught the eye were Jon Russell and young Fabio Jalo, both bagging a brace in the match. For Jalo in particular, it was a moment to savour after an injury-hit season.

“I want to play with wingers who excite the fans – and Fabio has that in abundance,” Hourihane said. “He’s struggled with rhythm due to injuries, but he’s in a really good place now. His attitude has been first class since I took over. I’ve been pushing him to do things the right way, and he’s responded brilliantly. The same goes for the other academy lads – Flav [Flavell] and Blandy [Bland] – they’ve all stepped up.”



Flavell, who played a key role in goal, was particularly praised for his distribution and execution as part of Barnsley’s tactical plan.

“His kicking was superb,” Hourihane noted. “It was a big part of our strategy - as soon as Flavs had the ball, we wanted to stretch the game and hit the space in behind for Fabs and Humps to run into. It wasn’t just hopeful kicking - it was measured, targeted, and he executed it brilliantly.”

Hourihane has shown clear trust in the academy graduates since stepping into the role - and that trust is being rewarded.

“They’re not just playing because they’re from the academy. They’re in the team because I believe they’re good enough. They’ve added freshness, energy, and they’ve taken their opportunity at a difficult time. That’s all you can ask.”

Two of Barnsley’s goals came as a result of well-drilled set-piece routines - no surprise, given Hourihane’s previous role on the coaching staff was as set-piece coach.

“Set pieces win or lose you games,” he explained. “They’re a massive part of football and I’m a big believer in them. Ed [Davies] and Steady [Stead], who’ve taken on that area since I stepped up, have been brilliant. We had a bit of a reset after the Birmingham game - both in terms of performances and our approach to set pieces. The focus has been renewed, and it paid off today.”

Despite the impressive result and performance, Hourihane was quick to temper any talk of momentum with a reminder that consistency remains key.

“It’s just one result. We’ve got to go again - stay level-headed and consistent. Of course, the players can enjoy it, they deserve to. But it’s back to work Monday. We’ve got four games left and we need to give everything. The message is simple: go full throttle and keep pushing.”

Reflecting on the broader picture, Hourihane also touched on the standards he’s been striving to raise within the squad - and how Saturday’s showing was a step in the right direction.

“I’ve spoken a lot about standards - on and off the pitch. This is just the start. It’s a footstep in the right direction, but nothing more yet. The thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve stuck to what I believe in - turning up every day with energy, driving the lads on, even after tough results. They look to you in those moments. And today, they repaid that with a performance full of fight, togetherness, and quality.”

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