Jonathan Bland has insisted that Barnsley's mood on the training pitch has been "immense" this week as the Reds look to bounce back from a bruising 5-1 defeat to Stevenage and head to Plymouth with renewed confidence.

A heavy loss, a quick response

The defeat at Stevenage was a chastening afternoon for Barnsley. Conceding five goals in a single League One fixture is the kind of result that could unsettle a squad, but Bland, speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, was keen to stress that the mood at the club's training ground has been anything but downbeat.

"Training this week has been immense," the midfielder said, suggesting the squad have taken the right lessons from a difficult day without letting it weigh them down.

That kind of response matters in the third tier, where the fixture list offers no time for extended introspection. A poor result on a Saturday can quickly become irrelevant if the following week's performance is strong enough. For Barnsley, the focus has turned immediately to what awaits them next.

Plymouth the next challenge

The Reds now travel to Plymouth Argyle, a fixture that presents its own considerable challenges. Plymouth are another League One outfit who have shown they are capable of making life very difficult for visiting sides, as recent results in the division have demonstrated.

For Bland, the trip south represents an opportunity to demonstrate that the Stevenage defeat was an aberration rather than a sign of deeper problems. Bouncing back from a heavy loss on the road is one of the more telling tests of a squad's character, and the midfielder's words suggest Barnsley intend to meet that test head on.

The midfielder himself will be looking to impose himself in the centre of the park. A commanding midfield presence is often the difference between a side that can absorb pressure and one that invites it, and Bland's outlook points to a group of players who have spent the week working hard to address what went wrong against Stevenage.

What the Stevenage defeat revealed

Stevenage's 5-1 victory was a statement result. Conceding five suggests Barnsley had problems not just in the final line but in the shape and organisation in front of it, with wide areas often a route through which third-tier sides find their goals. Whether it was structure, concentration or simply an off day, the coaching staff will have spent this week working through the footage and looking for answers.

Bland's emphasis on the quality of training this week hints that those answers have been found, at least in part. A positive environment between matches is often the first indicator that a squad is processing a setback correctly: working harder, communicating better and sharpening the details that slip away on a bad afternoon.

The bigger picture

Barnsley will be conscious that a second successive defeat, particularly on the road to Plymouth, could begin to put real distance between themselves and the upper reaches of the League One table. Three points away from home, on the other hand, would go a long way towards restoring confidence and keeping the Reds in contention for a positive finish to this run of fixtures.

The Plymouth fixture will tell us a good deal about whether Barnsley's training-ground confidence has translated into match-day readiness. On the evidence of Bland's words, they are at least approaching it in the right frame of mind.

Frequently asked

When do Barnsley play Plymouth Argyle next?
Barnsley are scheduled to travel to Plymouth Argyle in League One following their 5-1 defeat to Stevenage, with the fixture falling in the current round of third-tier fixtures.
What happened when Barnsley played Stevenage?
Stevenage beat Barnsley 5-1 in a League One fixture, a heavy defeat that the Reds have been working to put right in training ahead of their next match.
Who is Jonathan Bland at Barnsley?
Jonathan Bland is a midfielder at Barnsley FC, currently playing in League One. He spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield about the squad's response to the Stevenage defeat.