Barnsley defender Michael Sollbauer says his side still believe they can avoid relegation from the Championship this season, as the season enters its final few months.

Although they continue to languish inside the division's bottom three - as they have done for the majority of the season so far - back to back wins over Fulham and Middlesbrough in their last two games have moved the Tykes to within five points of safety, and given them fresh hope of avoiding an immediate return to League One.

That is something that Sollbauer, who only made the move to Oakwell from manager Gerhard Struber's former club Wolfsberger in the January transfer window, is already buying into.

Speaking after his that win over Middlesbrough on Saturday - in what was his sixth appearance in all competitions for the club - Sollbauer told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It was important that the team showed the fans that we are still believing and we are alive.

“With the performance of the team and supporters, we are a good team together. In this league, from what I have seen so far, every game is a big battle and you have to fight in every duel."

Reflecting on his side's all-round performance against 'Boro, it certainly seems as though Sollbauer have plenty to be positive about, as he continued: “The defence was really good and everybody was fighting for every ball in every area. We stayed patient and it was a good performance and a really good result.”

Next up for Barnsley is a trip to the KCOM Stadium on Wednesday night to face a Hull City side who are winless in their last nine games in all competitions.

The Verdict

It certainly seems as though Barnsley have reason to believe they can yet be successful in the battle for Championship survival this season.

In a league as unpredictable as the Championship, five points feels like a gap that can be easily overturned with 12 games to go, so there is absolutely no reason for the Tykes to be thinking about throwing in the towel any time soon.

Indeed, that win other Middlesbrough on Saturday shows they are capable of taking points off the sides just above them in the fight for survival, which will surely be crucial between now and the end of the campaign.

With Hull also out of form and sliding down the table, it will be interesting to see if Barnsley can come up with a similar performance again on Wednesday, when another victory would surely show they have the ability and nerve to secure that place in the Championship beyond the end of this season.