Barnsley manager Simon Davey admitted Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Norwich had been a reality check for his FA Cup heroes.A week after stunning mighty Liverpool in front of the Kop the Tykes slipped to a narrow defeat in a low-key game at Carrow Road, with Jamie Cureton's well-taken 26th-minute strike settling the issue.

In stark contrast to their away form in the FA Cup Barnsley have now lost 11 of their 17 league games on the road and are just six points clear of the relegation zone.

Davey knows his side need to start winning games again quickly to stay clear of trouble, starting on Tuesday night at Oakwell against QPR.

"It's difficult to swallow when you go and get a win away from home against the five-times European Champions and then you get beaten at Norwich," he said.

"This result is a reality check for the players because they earn their wages by getting results in the Championship not the FA Cup. The league is our bread and butter and we have got some very important games coming up before Chelsea. They players are well aware of what is required of them."

Davey admitted his side's league form away from Oakwell was a cause for concern.

" We've won our last two away games in the FA Cup but we've still just won one away in the league all season. There are reasons for that, with one or two decisions not going our way, but it's still a worry.

"Fortunately though our home form has kept us in a reasonable position and we have a couple of home games coming up now. We need positive results in them to get us moving in the right direction again."

Davey thought his side would have come away with something for their efforts today had they been sharper in front of goal : "They were clinical with the one real chance they had in the first half.

"The lads stuck it away really well but at the other end it was a different story. We had two good chances before they scored and didn't take them and in the end we were punished for not being as clinical as they were. I wouldn't say we deserved to get beaten on the balance of play but as I said, you generally get punished if you don't take your chances."

Davey's opposite number Glenn Roeder was delighted in the manner in which his side bounced back from their 4-0 drubbing at Leicester the previous week.

"I thought we deserved to win, there's no doubt about that. In fact I would say it's just about the most satisfying victory I've had since I've been here. There are a lot of young players out there, six under the age of 22, and considering they have not played together before they did extremely well. It was a terrific performance from the young boys."

The win took Norwich into the top half of the table since the first weeks of the season, having been rock bottom when Roeder took over in November.

"I think it's a miracle, I really do. Remember, we only had eight points in November. If someone had suggested then we'd have 45 points before the end of February I think they would have been put in a straightjacket but that's what we've achieved.

"I am pleased for the coaching staff ,, the players, and most of all the supporters because they have been phenomenal and this is the very least they deserve. Our target now is to stay in the top half."

More Football News from TEAMtalk