The Hatters had led through Nahki Wells’ first-half penalty, until Adam Phillips equalised before the break. It looked like Town were going to be left frustrated before Kasey Palmer swept home from close range to give the hosts a real chance of finishing inside the top six next weekend.

Wilshere said: “At this stage of the season it’s about winning and I had that feeling we were going to find something as I think the team’s really developed that.

“We want to still play well and still perform because we believe that’s the best way of winning a game and we’ve done that really well recently, but I didn’t think we found our rhythm.

“We threatened at times, but couldn’t quite keep our foot on the gas with that and I always felt that if we can suffer in those moments where they’re putting us under pressure, then we defended really well.

“More importantly I felt like the players believe that we can still find something from somewhere when you’ve got quality on the pitch and we certainly did that.”

With 16 minutes gone, Tykes’ skipper Luca Connell fouled Hakeem Odoffin in the box which saw Wells send Owen Goodman the wrong way for his 10th goal of the season.

The Tykes levelled on 26 minutes, Reyes Cleary’s shot saved by Josh Keeley, Phillips nodding in the rebound.

Wells missed a glorious chance at the back post, while in the second period, Barnsley substitute David McGoldrick went close before Palmer won it, netting his fourth goal in three games when Mads Andersen headed Liam Walsh’s corner into his path.

Tykes boss Conor Hourihane said: “I think if there was ever a game to sum up our season it was that.

“We played really well to get through them, get into the final third countless amounts of times. It was a really tight game in terms of the scoreline and then to come out on the wrong side of it, is really frustrating.

“The lads played well, they’re a team going for the play-offs and I don’t think you can tell the difference in both teams.

“In the end, a tight scoreline and you give away a couple of poor goals and that’s our season in a nutshell really.

“The team were fantastic, everyone to a man played their part. As a team performance it was pretty good.

“I’d like for us to be a bit more ruthless in the final third as the amount of times we got in there, to only come away with one goal is disappointing, but as a performance it was much improved.”