Lee Johnson laments poor display as Barnsley slip to fifth straight defeat

A first-half strike from Jamie Proctor was enough to give Fleetwood all three points, with Barnsley suffering their fifth consecutive defeat in League One.

Fleetwood took the lead in the 28th minute when Proctor picked up the ball on the half-way line before completing a superb run with a neat finish past Nick Townsend.

"It was disappointing," Johnson said. "I thought in the first half we looked like an under-18 team against a professional outfit. We didn't do enough or look confident enough.

"In the second half we had to try something different and go more direct with two players up-front, but the lads have got to do it themselves and find that internal desire to be the best they can be.

"In fairness we kept trying to do the right things, but we just didn't have the quality to do that.

"I know that once I get my best starting team out we can beat anyone. But we need that team to get fit and get playing sharpish.

"It is without doubt my worst spell as a manager and as a player. I've never lost five on the bounce, but as they say, 'no guts no glory', and if you're going to fold and melt as a team then what's the point?"

Fleetwood manager Steven Pressley said: "It was a very ugly game, with not a great deal of good football and not a good spectacle between two teams with a real will to win. But we got our noses in front and showed a real professionalism to win.

"It was a defensive masterclass from my team and I'm really proud and pleased for them.

"I had a go at Proctor for his performance on Tuesday night (against Sheffield United) and as a manager all you ask for is a response. I thought his response was brilliant. He led the line brilliantly, and I think when you work in that manner you get your breaks.

"I think that in time there will be improvements in our passing, there's no doubt about that. But as I keep saying to the players, for the time being the most important factor is winning games of football, because that's what we'll be judged on."