Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Match Previews

ROBINS READY FOR BARNSLEY RETURN

29 November 2014

Match Previews

ROBINS READY FOR BARNSLEY RETURN

29 November 2014

Iron manager Mark Robins is looking forward to making his return to Oakwell to face former club Barnsley on Saturday.

United head to South Yorkshire for their latest League One clash as they bid to make it seven matches unbeaten away from home.

"I had two good years there," said Robins, who managed them in the Championship between 2009 and 2011, speaking to BBC Radio Humberside.

"They are a side who had struggled in the Championship and it was a challenge, though one that I enjoyed.

"It gave me my first managerial opportunity in the Championship.

"It's a really tough league, and the discrepancy of spending power between those sides who have come down from the Premier League who have parachute payments and those who don't can make it pretty difficult.

"Also though, on the back of that, teams who come down from the Premier League have that negative momentum.

"Teams who come up from League One have shown they can challenge because they have that positivity - with Norwich and Southampton to name just a couple.

"In the second season it was a step forward from the season before. Though we never really flirted with relegation, we were still around 17th/18th position.

"It was a fantastic experience though, the supporters were fantastic and we had some decent players there.

"There are different challenges at each club you go to and, though I feel I'm a better manager than I was when I was at Barnsley, I believe it was a job well done there.

"They're a good side, Barnsley. Danny Wilson is a shrewd manager and he has brought some decent players in there - one or two of whom are showing some outstanding potential.

"Going back to Oakwell is fantastic, as it's always been. There are people there who I like and respect, and the supporters are amongst that.

"I remember the last game of my first year at Huddersfield, and we played Barnsley on the last day of the season. We both needed something from the game to stay up.

"It is one of those games that will live with me forever. Both sets of supporters were singing together. We both stayed up in the end, and it was a 2-2 draw.

"It was an emotional day, and something I'll remember for the rest of my football days."

Advertisement block

iFollow Next Match Tickets Account