[BFC SITE] "We need to raise our game even more and really turn up on Tuesday night" -...

Fixtures

• Northampton Town Vs. Barnsley - Tue, Feb 25 2025, 19:45

Ahead of Barnsley’s trip to Northampton Town on Tuesday night, Davis Keillor-Dunn sat down to discuss the Reds’ recent form, the importance of consistency, and their approach to the upcoming fixture.


After a vital win on Saturday against Rotherham United, Keillor-Dunn reflected on the significance of the result: "It was a great win for the lads and the fans. We needed that victory, and it was rewarding to stay in the game, stay solid, and secure the win, especially with a clean sheet."

The Reds’ staff have been working hard to ensure the team avoids losing from winning positions, and Keillor-Dunn explained how that focus paid off against the Millers: "The staff have identified that we’ve been going ahead in games but then conceding and losing from those positions. When we went 1-0 up, it was important to stay strong. We didn’t concede, and we held on for the win."

The forward also discussed how the gaffer had instructed him to play a more unselfish role: "The gaffer told me to focus on stretching the defence and occupying their players rather than coming towards the ball as much. They switched to a back five, so I had to make runs in behind and stretch the game, allowing our ball players to get on the ball and hurt them. I managed to win the penalty, and Phillo [Adam Phillips] scored. It’s about turning moments in games to our favour, and that’s something we’ve been working on."

Keillor-Dunn was clear on the need for consistency, a theme that has run throughout the season: "I’ve said it a hundred times: consistency is key. You need to string wins together to climb the league. We know what we need to do, and we’ll have meetings and train properly to ensure we’re ready. The lads know they need to be solid and consistent in this tough division. Northampton have had a couple of good wins, so we’ll be ready for a challenging game on Tuesday."

Looking ahead to Tuesday night’s match, Keillor-Dunn acknowledged the importance of maintaining momentum: "Of course, you can undo all the hard work from Saturday if you don’t perform on Tuesday. We need to raise our game even more and really turn up on Tuesday night. Then we move into next Saturday’s game against Lincoln. If we put in the work, it will really benefit us."

The upcoming fixture, a tough test against Northampton, is one Keillor-Dunn and the team are ready for. "As you say, there was pressure in the Yorkshire Derby, but the lads just got on with it. We knew we had to stay solid, and now we’ve got two big fixtures ahead. We want to go into them confident. Saturday’s result is the perfect start for the next two games, and we know what we need to do. We’ll prepare well and look forward to Tuesday.

"They’ll make it difficult for us and try to make it an ugly game. They’ll do the dirty work well, and they’ve got quality to watch out for. But if we play our game and impose ourselves on Northampton, we’re more than capable of going there and winning. Our goal is simple: we’re going to Northampton to take three points. We’re not aiming for a draw; we’re going for the win. The lads are buzzing and looking forward to it, so we hope for a positive result on Tuesday night."

Continue reading...