Barnsley manager David Flitcroft had praise for the Town staff who helped ensure Saturday’s snow-hit game at Portman Road went ahead after his team had claimed a 1-1 draw. The 39-year-old was taking control of the Tykes for the first time since being elevated to full-time boss having previously been caretaker-manager.

Flitcroft said: “Incredible, the commitment from the staff has been absolutely brilliant.

“It’s what football’s about. There’s no other industry which could have called on the support it has.

“The chief exec, the board, whoever has got this game on deserves [credit], it’s brilliant what they’ve done.”

Flitcroft said he was happy with the Portman Road surface and didn't blame the conditions for midfielder Stephen Dawson's first half injury, which he hopes isn't too serious.

“We’re hoping it’s ankle ligaments,” he said. "But he could have snapped something in his ankle."

Blues chief executive Simon Clegg also paid tribute to those who had made sure the game went ahead with the club’s office staff and members of the security team joining the groundstaff in helping clear the show.

Clegg said: “It’s been a huge team effort and I’m very grateful to everyone who managed to get the game on.

“I’m post-[a double hernia] op, so I wasn’t quite doing as much as many other people were, but it’s important that it was a huge team effort and I’m very grateful to everyone for their efforts.”

Meanwhile, Town boss Mick McCarthy had praise for his opposite number Flitcroft and the way he approached his first match since he was confirmed as the manager at Oakwell: “He set his team up the same as he set it up against Leeds last week [when they won 2-0].

“It’s quite a brave way of playing I would say, it’s 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2, whatever numbers you want to put on it.

“John Stones marches on and becomes a midfield player and Jacob Mellis or Jim O’Brien goes on and plays behind the two strikers.

“That does cause a problem because they can keep the ball a bit better off that shape. He’s had two good games. It's a great start. Beating Leeds at home and drawing away at Ipswich is fantastic for him.”

Photo: Action Images

bigolconnor added 08:13 - Jan 21 yeah well done Ben Connell and crew. Double hernia. ouch!
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PaphosBlue added 09:02 - Jan 21 Its a pity the the playing staff didn't put the shift in that the groundstaff did. Well done to all those that worked to get this game on but very dissappointed in the team performance particularly the "Mac Double" that started up front.....must do better!
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spanish_archer added 10:27 - Jan 21 Good comments from Cleggy...
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Jesney_Havoc added 11:52 - Jan 21 How nicety-nice ! What a bunch of lovies....
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SamWhiteUK added 16:23 - Jan 21 Did Clegg actually just say he was post-op?
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Lennyboy added 16:49 - Jan 21 So Clegg has had a hernia op, I always knew he'd dropped a boll*ck when signing Keane and Jewell. Ha Ha. COYB!!!
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BuckieBlue added 17:10 - Jan 21 Nice for all involved to get praise from opposition manager. He'll deserve praise too if he manages to keep them up- lot of teams above them.
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Talbs77 added 20:11 - Jan 21 Utmost to Flitcroft, he set his team up to have a real go Saturday and the way they closed down when they lost the ball, knocked it around with pace, is a credit to themselves and the manager. If they play like that every week I can see them surviving even if on paper, they look poor. As for the staff, as someone who works for the club (although not on the ground staff), I see every week the hard work people put in behind the scenes and its nice to see them get some credit.

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runningout added 23:54 - Jan 21 here here
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