Barnsley boss Robins hails 'intelligent' Bogdanovic

Barnsley manager Mark Robins believes Daniel Bogdanovic is key to his team's quest for a top-half finish in the Championship this season.

The Malta striker underlined his importance to Barnsley's cause with a well-taken double that inspired the Tykes to a 2-0 win at Cardiff on Saturday.

"I'm relieved because of the previous three games and pleased because of the performance," Robins told Barnsley's official website (www.barnsleyfc.co.uk).

"They were two sharp finishes by Daniel Bogdanovic and he is a good player. If he can stick the ball in the back of net like that on a regular basis we will finish in the top half.

"He is a very intelligent player and knows how to finish and how to get the best out of the crowd."

Bogdanovic fired Barnsley ahead after nine minutes of Saturday's away match. Racing clear onto Hugo Colace's fine pass, Bogdanovic advanced before stroking the ball past Peter Enckelman, the Cardiff goalkeeper. Barely three minutes later, Bogdanovic doubled Barnsley's lead, lashing the ball into the net after getting on the end of a fine cross from Adam Hammill.

Robins was delighted that Barnsley had kept a clean sheet. "We've kept an important clean sheet," the former Manchester United striker said. "Once or twice the decision-making wasn't brilliant, but we also had some luck along the way and I was delighted.

"There are some top players here (at Cardiff) so to have kept them as quiet as we did do was very good."

Before travelling to Cardiff, Barnsley had conceded three consecutive defeats to Middlesbrough (1-2), Plymouth (1-3) and Scunthorpe (1-2). In the upset to Scunthorpe, Bogdanovic had struck Barnsley's temporary equaliser after coming off the bench.

The Barnsley manager claimed that the team's optimism had not been dented by their losing streak prior to Saturday's game.

"We have seen Cardiff City hammer teams this season and to play like we did and get the three points was superb," Robins said.

"We are always looking up the table. Even after the defeats we suffered, we have continued to look forward. Before the game we said it was a 15-game mini-season and we have won the first game."

Barnsley are 11th in the 24-team Championship on 42 points, one above Bristol City.

Bogdanovic, who turns 30 next month, is Barnsley's leading scorer with 10 goals in all competitions.