Barnsley boss Hourihane on 3-2 defeat at Bolton Wanderers

Owen Goodman kept it down to three and Hourihane made four changes at the break, which made a big difference in the second half.

After getting a couple of goals back, the Barnsley boss admitted there was ultimately some disappointment not to leave the Toughsheet Stadium with a point.

“A complete contrast of emotions really,” he told BBC Sheffield. “First half, I thought we were awful and it could have been four or five easy.

“Lucky to go down 3-0, I was actually thankful it was only 3-0 at half time to be honest. We couldn’t live with the intensity, we looked tired and leggy.

“They had a week off and we didn’t. Was that something that didn’t help us? Potentially. Obviously, they are on a decent run and fighting for promotion, for a top two spot. They came out of the traps a lot quicker than us.

“We made four changes at half time and second half, we looked a completely different team and standing here now a bit disappointed not to get something from the game.

“From 45 minutes really poor and 45 minutes in the second half, disappointed not to take a point from the game. The lads, second half, were really good.”

Both of Sam Dalby’s goals in the first half came from set plays and Hourihane admitted that added to his frustration.

“Set plays are a massive part of the game. I speak about it all the time, we work so much on them attacking and defensively,” he continued.

“The goal we scored against Northampton during the week to get back into the game was a set play, they are such a big part of the game.

“It is disappointing to concede a couple of them. They had chances from open play and only for Owen Goodman, in the first half, it could have been four or five. We gave ourselves a fighting chance at half time and the important thing was the reaction.

“Would we go under or have that attacking output and give ourselves an opportunity to at least put a gloss on the scoreline? We certainly did that and more, and could have got something from the game.”