[BFC SITE] Corey O'Keeffe | Pre-Rotherham United Press Conference

Corey O'Keeffe sat down with the local media to discuss our upcoming Sky Bet League One fixture against Rotherham United on Saturday lunchtime.


On the reaction from the players following the Huddersfield game:

Yeah, a lot of frustration from players, fans, staff but we just have to stick together. The gaffer [Darrell Clarke] spoke to us for quite a bit after the game and it was just about everyone sticking together and getting back on task.

On the strong start against Huddersfield:

We came out of the traps well and got a goal through Jon [Russell] and thought the first half was decent. We thought “go out now and do more of the same” and then obviously the second half wasn’t what we wanted and we end up losing the game. But I feel like first half we showed some really good signs and it’s just about putting two halves together now.

On understanding the second half performance:

The gaffer has gone through videos with us and had individual meetings done, along with group meetings and through things we need to work on. So hopefully we can put that into fruition now.

On the current run of form:

Our goal has been the same from the very start, it is to get to the playoffs and try and get promoted. We’re not going to stop doing that knowing what the gap is now. We’re not going to drop our heads , we’ve got to keep going knowing anything can happen in football. I feel like if we get on another run we can do it we just can’t drop our heads, we have to keep going.

On his role as a senior player in the team:

Everyone has a huge role to play for the rest of the season and I want to do my best for the team and I’m sure everyone else will as well.

On the role of the rest of the team in the upcoming fixtures:

We still believe in the camp, everyone still believes. It’s not been the best results as of late but just before that we went [on a run of] 5 wins ourselves so we know we can do it. Everyone’s sticking together, everyone’s training hard and we do believe we can still do it, we just have to stick together and just keep going until the very end.

Thoughts on the new arrivals:

They’re all great lads, done well in training and are working hard like the rest of us to get into the playoffs. But they’ve come in and worked hard to help us do that. They’re straight on board with what we’re trying to do. The gaffer has sat down to speak with them and they’ve fit right in. They know the goal as much as we do.

On his contribution this season:

Yeah, I definitely want to add more [to his nine assists for the season], I’m not happy with nine at the moment so I want to add more and help the team. Individually it was my aim to get as many goals and assists this season and put numbers up but my overall aim is to get promoted with Barnsley. That still isn’t out of the equation and we’re still trying to push towards that.

Looking forward to the Rotherham game:

It’s massive and I think there’s no better place to go and do it. Go and win and get the fans back on side. Show [that] we are still in it and then go on a run with a few wins and then everything looks different.

On the message from the staff to the players for the upcoming game:

We had a few chats and messages such as “stick together”. The team have gone out to go and get promoted, that was the goal this season. We’ve been in and around the playoffs, we’ve dropped out of it for the first time and it’s not getting our heads in the dumps. There’s still a goal to be done and it’s possible, we just have to stick together and try and get over the line.

On frustrations over the last few weeks:

There’s going to be frustration when teams are not winning games, I’m a football fan myself and there’s always going to be frustration when your team isn’t winning games, but you’ve got to stick together. Everyone’s trying their best to get us back to where we belong, and we’ll keep pushing and trying to do that.

On the importance of Connell, Phillips and Roberts returning to the team:

It’s like the spine of the team, they’re three great players and hopefully if they’re back fit and firing that will help us massively to hopefully go on and win against Rotherham [United].

On how important promotion would be:

It would be massive. I came here wanting promotions and as I’ve said before I’ve always been in teams where I’ve been down and tried to stay up or in the midtable whereas Barnsley belong in the Championship so I feel like we should push on. It would be massive for me to get promoted with Barnsley and it would be massive for the fans and the club as well.

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