"Michael Duff clearly" - Barnsley urged to consider Darrell Clarke future after Huddersfield Town defeat | OneFootball

The Tykes have are without a win in their last six league outings and have fallen away from play-off contention

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Saturday’s defeat to Huddersfield Town leaves Barnsley’s play-off dreams as slender as they have been all season under Darrell Clarke – now seven points from the top six after five defeats in their last six.

The Tykes were unable to keep hold of their lead after heading into the break one goal to the good after Jon Russell’s opening around the quarter-hour, with two goals in as many minutes turning the game on its head around the hour mark, with Town running out 2-1 winners at the final whistle.

With just four goals scored during their wretched run of form, the Oakwell outfit have gone from contenders for the top six to also-rans within the space of a month, with the mood turning toxic at the final whistle at the weekend.

As hope continues to drain from most associated with the club, we asked Football League World’s Barnsley fan pundit Andy Symcox to give us his view on things at his football club right now, and whether Clarke is the right man for the job.

Darrell Clarke future questioned after Barnsley run of form

A return of one point from a possible 18 has left Barnsley festering in mid-table as we head into the final third of the season, with the side unable to find any sort of momentum when they needed it the most.

The Yorkshire side were on a run of four straight victories before they came crashing down 3-1 to Bristol Rovers in the middle of January, and have been unable to arrest the slide ever since, with defeats to Stevenage, Wycombe, Stockport and Huddersfield adding to their woes, while a goalless draw with Burton Albion saw them earn a single point.

As former boss Michael Duff returned to Oakwell and took home all three points at the weekend, there would have been plenty of a red persuasion pining for their old boss’s passion on the sidelines as their side surrendered a one-goal advantage on Saturday, in a performance that left Symcox questioning their current man in the dugout.

When asked about Clarke’s future, the Tykes fan said: “I am in a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, I don’t think he was properly backed in the January transfer window.

“It was clear to the vast majority of fans that we needed a proven, experienced striker, and although some of the window’s signings appear sound, this was clearly not the case as we have signed two unproven strikers/ wingers, and for me that is insufficient.

“We have lost four on the trot and five of the last six, as well as a no-score bore draw. On the basis of the last game against Huddersfield, it was all there to play for.

“We were 1-0 up at half-time with the team being cheered off and Huddersfield fans were booing off their team, but in the second half we looked absolutely clueless.

“So Michael Duff clearly fired up his team, and our manager certainly did not, so on that basis, and our current run, I would be tempted to say that we need to part ways as the season is grinding to a halt.”

Barnsley’s play-off hopes have disappeared after recent run of form

The lack of transfer activity that Symcox eludes to regards the deals of frontman Clement Rodrigues, who was drafted in from the French second tier in the winter, while League of Ireland star Neil Farrugia and American import Jonathan Lewis have been added to pose a threat on the wings.

A lack of potency going forward has cost the club dear of late, with Symcox questioning the transfer decisions made at the club that have affected Clarke’s options for the remainder of the season.

Having come out the other end of the transfer window, Clarke now has to deal with what he has in front of him for the remainder of the campaign - should he last that long - with the momentum they came into the New Year with completely decimated over the past few weeks.

The powers that be at Oakwell will be pondering whether to stick or twist right now, and Symcox is unsure what the best choice is for the future, with the prospect of giving Clarke time also having the potential to reap rewards in the future.

With trips to Rotherham United and Northampton Town to come, there will be plenty of hope that the former Port Vale boss can turn things around before too long, even if the Tykes faithful are starting to lose faith in the man in the dugout.

He continued: “I am unsure whether this will make sufficient difference to the season, as I feel the play-offs are now highly unlikely to be possible. We have gone from fifth and looking upwards, to halfway down the league and potentially looking downwards by the end of the season.

“If we were able to get someone who is genuinely good enough to get a tune out of the players, then I would understand parting ways with him. I am not sure he is the person to take us forward at this moment, but we keep changing managers and head coaches and this lack of stability is costing us dear.

“I am in a total conundrum about it.”