Luke Woolfenden was proud Ipswich Town were able to ‘do their talking on the pitch’ during their thumping victory over Barnsley. 

The Blues’ 3-0 win at Oakwell, thanks to goals from Nathan Broadhead, George Hirst and Conor Chaplin, means success against Exeter at Portman Road on Saturday will secure Championship football. 

Barnsley had won nine successive games on home soil prior to Ipswich’s visit, with the Town players clearly noting the hosts’ perceived arrogance on social media in the lead-up to the game.  

The Tykes’ post stating ‘we were ready five weeks ago’ referenced the postponed original staging of this game in March, with the Blues initially having the required three international call-ups before Greg Leigh’s fell through after the decision to rearrange. 

While Barnsley added fuel to a fire of jibes which have been directed at Ipswich since the postponement, Woolfenden and his team-mates were happy to have the last laugh once they finally got on the pitch. 

“This is right at the top in front of a massive, massive crowd on a Tuesday night a long way from home,” he said, when asked how big a night this was for Ipswich. “We are all going home so happy. 

“Their social media team made it clear (Barnsley were looking to win 10 in a row). It’s one of those things where I don’t know why people do it because it always comes back and makes you look a fool in the end. That’s why we do our talking on the pitch.

“You go out expecting to win games but we don’t just fall back on the fact we know we have good players. We work hard, cover a lot of distance and work opposition teams really well. 

“We have stood up to the pressure in the last couple of games. After the Bristol Rovers draw (0-0 on February 14) a lot of people were downbeat and it looked as though we were going to fall short again.  

“But we didn't let that get to us so we stood together and stood up as a team.” 

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Town defender Luke Woolfenden, pictured in action at BarnsleyIpswich Town defender Luke Woolfenden, pictured in action at Barnsley (Image: Pagepix)

Victory at Oakwell saw Town notch their 12 clean sheet in the last 14 matches. 

“It’s not bad for a defender who can’t defend, is it!” Woolfenden replied. 

“First and foremost it’s great for Walts (Christian Walton) and it’s great for the back four, but you can see the work the attacking players put in. The numbers they get through are incredible. 

READ MORE: Stuart Watson on Town's stunning Barnsley win

“It normally falls on the lads at the back but, in the same way we have to contribute with goals, they have to with the clean sheets as well.” 

On his defensive partnership with Cameron Burgess, Woolfenden said: “I enjoy playing alongside him and we probably complement each other well because he has the balance to go out on his left and can dominate in the air, while my strength is reading flick-ons and getting interceptions.”