Conor Hourihane says he ‘hated’ how Barnsley FC looked in Leyton Orient collapse – and makes signings admission
The Reds were two goals to the good at Brisbane Road but succumbed to pressure and allowed Orient to mount a comeback.
Omar Beckles struck to wrap up a 4-3 win for Orient, condemning Hourihane to a defeat in his first game as Barnsley’s permanent head coach.
“If there’s one game to sum up the season then it’s probably today,” Hourihane said. “I thought we were outstanding for the first 25 minutes.
“We controlled the ball, played most of it in their half and created chances. Then, as I’ve just told the players in the dressing room, I hated the rest of it.
“I hated the way the team looked. We didn’t string passes together. It became scrappy and we created lots of transitions for them which they’re good at and we didn’t compete.
“At 3-1 I still felt really uncomfortable and the players had lost their way in the game. We gave the ball away a couple of times, so it was from our own downfall why they won the game.”
Hourihane took the reins as caretaker at Oakwell last month, when Darrell Clarke was relieved of his duties.
He led the Reds to an impressive 4-1 win over Bolton Wanderers last week but the loss at Brisbane Road was a stern reminder there is a lot of work to do.
“We need to be braver,” Hourihane said. “I want us to play aggressively but when it became scrappy, I really didn’t like what I saw. We need some fresh new faces around the place for next season.”
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Barnsley FC confirm Conor Hourihane as permanent head coach at League One club
Conor Hourihane has been named as the permanent head coach at the League One club.
The former Reds captain had been in temporary charge since Darrell Clarke was sacked in mid-March and the 34-year-old was placed in temporary command for the final 10 games of the season – while being given an extended opportunity to showcase his credentials for the full-time post.
While early results were not forthcoming, Hourihane had been greatly impressing all and sundry at the club with his training-ground approach, high standards in the working week and culture shift – with a number of players praising his approach.
A fine 4-1 victory over a top-six candidate in Bolton Wanderers last weekend added considerable weight to long-term credentials.
Speaking recently, Hourihane – who came back last summer as player-coach on a three-year deal – only to retire from playing in December – said his Oakwell experiences had given him a ‘fire in his belly’ to succeed in frontline management, while expressing hope that he would be allowed to continue beyond this season.
He said: “I’d be lying if I said I did not think about it (long term plans) and did not say I have not looked at a few things and thought: ‘that will definitely need changing and that will for the club to be successful moving forwards’.
“There’s definitely things in my head I’d like to improve and do better and change. I have learned so much, you do so every single day and week.
