Barnsley boss Keith Hill heaped praise on Town’s “Premier League side” after the Blues’ remarkable 5-3 victory over the Tykes at Oakwell on Saturday.
Hill admitted that at half-time, with the score 2-0 to his team, he didn’t foresee such a dramatic comeback: "I don’t think anyone could see that coming, could they?
"If I’m being honest, it was nothing to do with our players, I think it was a lot to do with Ipswich’s players.
"When you look at their teamsheet, it’s a Premier League side. I think something happened in their changing room at half-time, whether they reached rock bottom or it was fight or flight syndrome, they showed what good players and what a good team they could possibly be in the second half.”
While the former Rochdale manager says his players could have done more to prevent some of the goals, he felt that shouldn’t detract from the Blues’ display after the break: "I do believe that we should have done better with at least three of the goals that they scored, but you can’t take anything away from Ipswich and their performance in the second half, and I won’t.
"But it’s a performance and a result, especially a result, that we hope to put in isolation. I’m pleased with the players. We never really gave in even though we made mistakes, but the opposition can punish you, and they did punish us.
"A game is never won at 2-0, it’s never won when you’re leading in the Championship. From a manager’s perspective, I’ve just got to move forward.”
Hill says financially the clubs operate in different spheres: "There’s a gulf between the type of budget that Ipswich have got compared to ours, I mean a real gulf.
"If I wanted to recruit Keith Andrews, I’d have to sell all my squad. There’s a massive difference. Can we challenge [other clubs in the Championship]? I think we can challenge game to game, but over 46 games it’s going to be very difficult.
"The players are really hurting because we can be competitive, but when Keith Andrews turns up and Bowyer, Scotland, Chopra, Edwards, Sonko and Collins, Premier League players, it’s difficult to be competitive.”
The Tykes boss says the game showed the tightrope managers walk: "Let’s be right, at half-time every one of those supporters behind the goal was shouting for Paul Jewell to be sacked. After the match he’s the messiah. Fine lines and margins!”