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!”

Photo: Action Images

mikeybloo88 added 08:52 - Dec 12 he's having a laff..Rymans premier League more like
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danger_matt added 08:59 - Dec 12 This should provide a bit of perspective I think rather than the mindless jewell out calls and people suggesting we don't need Andrews and should let him go. We've built a squad of quality in depth with players some managers can only dream of. Granted a few are getting on and aren't showing their all, but I think jewell has done the right thing by going for a base of experience. Hopefully now they will finally kick on and show their potential. It's about time.

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FriskinPriskin1 added 09:23 - Dec 12 Sonko = premier league???
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Mark added 09:25 - Dec 12 So Keith Hill thinks we are a Premier League side and didn't Kevin Beattie say it's the worst Ipswich team he has seen? The truth is somewhere in-between, but give Jewell time and I think we will head towards coming a Premier League side over the next few seasons. As for the finances, I totally support the concept of the Financial Fair Play rules, although I worry a bit this might mean Ipswich can't rely on Marcus Evans any more and that advantage will be lost. In those circumstances it is important to buy and sell well (as Jewell does) and to develop players through the youth system (Grade One academy please).

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Sindre94 added 09:30 - Dec 12 I didnt call for jewells head
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TractorMan added 09:36 - Dec 12 While Beattie was no doubt a fantastic player for us, he is one of the most useless summarisers/pundits I have ever heard on radio. You can't agree with every caller if it contradicts what you previously said - stop trying to be a friend to all callers and get an opinion and stick to it!
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loobz66 added 09:54 - Dec 12 Wow. First I heard of this!
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bobble added 10:51 - Dec 12 1 game doesn't make a season
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Gilesy added 11:04 - Dec 12 I suspect Keith Hill was partly trying to put the emphasis on us to deflect that his team lost at home to a team with 7 straight defeats after being 2-0 up at half time! Perhaps it was more for the domestic market than a true reflection on Town, although we were quite good. As for the financial fair play stuff, we have always seemed at our best when we HAVEN'T had the money - it went wrong for Burley when we qualified for the UEFA cup and tried to build a squad, and under Royle, while in Administration....well, wasn't that fun!

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KenDubZ added 11:30 - Dec 12 Nice to see it wrote and on paper we are but when players got to the field we are not showing it just yet...
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Frankley_Blue added 11:31 - Dec 12 So there! LOL
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SomershamBlue added 11:32 - Dec 12 Yup - KH clearly trying to excuse a bad result.
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fifeblue added 12:15 - Dec 12 Paper and cracks. Without Andrews and Collins we are down.
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Greybritain added 12:46 - Dec 12 Hahaha! Has Hill got an Xmas DVD out and this line is one of the best excerpts from it?
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petieboy2011 added 13:20 - Dec 12 I dont know about 1 game doesnt make a season - in this case it was 1 half!! The first 45 minutes on Saturday were woeful. Chopra was constantly on the floor, Edwards was about as useful as an inflatable pin cushion and some of the others were running around like a fart in a trance! Its a very welcome 3 points regardless of the display though and hopefully it will spearhead a rise up the table. COYB's

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llewej_tuo added 13:51 - Dec 12 JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT

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Taricco_Fan added 14:03 - Dec 12 Scottish Premier League, maybe.
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mikeybloo88 added 15:54 - Dec 12 You sure it wasn't Harry Hill who said it
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bigolconnor added 16:13 - Dec 12 None of the players he mentioned are premier league. Stupid man.
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h32 added 20:08 - Dec 12 Keith Hill's words were actually:- 'if this team plays to their full potential they are Premier quality' - therein lies the truth - but they haven't been have they ?? - and can they repeat Saturday ?? - therein again, will lie the truth.
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SitfcB added 01:51 - Dec 13 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!” ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Erm, no we wernt.
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