It’s been almost three years since Barnsley’s hearts were broken in the League One play-off final.
On that day, Josh Windass’ 123rd-minute winner sent Sheffield Wednesday back to the Championship and denied the Tykes an immediate return to the second tier.
Although Barnsley reached the play-off semi-finals the following season, they finished 12th in 2024-25 and are approaching the end of a fourth successive League One campaign.
Former promotion-winning captain Conor Hourihane is now in charge in his first managerial role, but his side have endured a year of transition.
The Reds sit 12th after a 1-1 draw with Wigan on Tuesday, eight points off the play-offs, although they do have two games in hand on sixth-placed Reading.
‘There’s definitely been a lot of ups and downs,’ Barnsley midfielder Vimal Yoganathan tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘We’ve had a lot of good games, but there have also been matches where we’ve not been great – and we know that.’
‘There’s definitely been a lot of ups and downs,’ says Barnsley midfielder Vimal Yoganathan (pictured in action against former club Liverpool in the FA Cup) of their season
Barnsley are 12th in League One, eight points off the play-off spots, though Yoganathan isn’t ruling out a push for promotion
There have been positives. Hourihane was named manager of the month in November, shortly after a 5-0 win over Luton, while Barnsley are the third-highest scorers in the division. However, the winter departure of Davis Keillor-Dunn – who had 13 goals in 24 games – to Wrexham was a blow.
Encouragingly, several young players have emerged. Yoganathan, Jonathan Bland, Patrick Kelly and Reyes Cleary – a summer signing from West Brom who has 12 assists – have all made an impact, while 19-year-old winger Charlie Lennon marked his debut with a goal against Wigan.
Defensively, though, Barnsley have struggled. They have kept just two clean sheets in League One and have not won more than two league games in a row all season. A record of 13 wins, 12 defeats and 11 draws underlines their inconsistency.
‘Going forward, we’ve been strong and scoring goals,’ Yoganathan adds. ‘But defensively it hasn’t been as good. We’ve got clear instructions about how we want to play – it’s about sticking to them and doing what we can for the rest of the season.’
Yoganathan is well-placed to reflect. The 20-year-old has made 37 appearances in all competitions in what has been a breakthrough campaign, having joined Barnsley at Under-16 level.
‘There have been a lot of ups and downs for me too,’ he says. ‘I’ve scored a couple, had a red card and been in and out of the team. But it’s been a massive learning experience.’
As he suggests, it has been a year of progress after he helped Oldham win promotion from the National League when on loan last season. Highlights for Yoganathan include his first EFL goals, becoming a regular starter and facing boyhood club Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup third round.
The midfielder – who swapped shirts with Florian Wirtz after the game – is full of praise for Hourihane’s influence on his development.
‘It’s great to learn off Con because he played in midfield at the highest level,’ says Yoganathan of Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane
The 20-year-old has made 37 appearances in all competitions in what has been a breakthrough campaign
‘I’ve really enjoyed playing under him,’ he says. ‘He’s shown a lot of trust in me. It’s great to learn off Con because he played in midfield at the highest level.
‘I’m always listening to details he gives me – positionally and technically – even things like how to receive the ball in certain moments and when to release it. It’s helped me develop personally and as a player.’
Hourihane has faced criticism from some supporters this year, although he has credit in the bank – and his popularity is helped by his playing career, having captained Barnsley to promotion from League One in 2016 and also lifted the EFL Trophy the same year.
The 35-year-old, who returned as a player-coach in the summer of 2024, has acknowledged the need for defensive improvement and places a strong emphasis on tactical work in training. To his credit, he has also created opportunities and a positive environment for young players.
Yoganathan, meanwhile, is a grounded and thoughtful figure whose journey into the professional game is a fascinating one.
Raised in North Wales and capped at Under-21 level, he became the first footballer of Tamil heritage to play a professional match when he made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2023. He is also the first Tamil player to score an EFL goal, having netted against Doncaster in November.
‘I’m focusing on my football and that has done a lot of the talking because it’s raised love and awareness of it,’ he says of his role as a trailblazer. ‘It’s important to speak about it too though. Bringing more Tamil and South Asian players into the game is something I’ve looked at.
Yoganathan became the first Tamil player to score an EFL goal with a strike against Doncaster in November
‘I’m not sure what the reason is (for the lack of representation), but I have definitely helped already. Now it’s about what more I can do and how I can help even more.’
His path has not been straightforward though. Yoganathan spent seven years at Liverpool after joining at the age of eight before being released, and he also had a short spell at Burnley.
‘There was the worrying uncertainty of whether I’d find another club,’ he recalls. ‘But looking back, it helped build my character. I’ve been able to bounce back at Barnsley – and hopefully I can keep proving those who released me wrong.’
After leaving Burnley, Yoganathan attended the EFL’s Exit Trials, designed for Under-16 players yet to secure apprenticeships. Attendees on the day are split into teams to play games while scouts watch on.
The initiative has been successful, with hundreds of players earning scholarships over the past decade as a result. The EFL’s League Football Education body holds a similar process for Under-18s who don’t secure professional contracts.
It is understood Yoganathan received interest from seven clubs afterwards, including one Championship outfit, before he ended up at Barnsley.
Alongside him, Norwich youngster Botan Ameen – who was picked up by Swindon in the 2023 Exit Trials after being released by QPR – is another to come through the system in recent years, and the Canaries signed him for a fee rising to £500,000 last summer.
Hourihane has faced criticism from some supporters this year, although he has credit in the bank and was hugely popular when he played for Barnsley
‘The concept of it is good,’ Yoganathan says. ‘It gives players a chance to express themselves in front of teams and scouts. It can be tough being judged off one game, but if it helps young guys get chances then it’s a good idea.’
Looking ahead, the play-offs may be out of reach unless Barnsley can put together a strong run. Their remaining fixtures, however, could still have a major impact on the final League One table.
Yoganathan’s ultimate ambition would be to reach those play-offs and win another final at Wembley, but his immediate focus is simple.
‘I just want to play as many games as I can,’ he concludes. ‘As a team, it’s about winning the next game, then the next, and seeing where that takes us. You never know what could happen.’
