Moreno Longo was in a philosophical mood after Bari’s last-minute winner against Palermo on Friday lifted them back into the play-off spots for the first time in two weeks.

“The growth process never ends; every game provides opportunities to improve and develop,” he said.

“Our mindset is always positive and we always work to perform at our absolute best. We never give up and you can see a team that believes in itself and puts in the effort, as has been the case from the start of the season.”

Bari’s self-belief received a much-needed boost at the San Nicola last week, as Lorenco Simic’s 89th minute winner brought a five-game winless run to an end and dragged the Galletti back into the Serie B top-eight with 44 points, one behind the seventh-placed Rosanero.

Coupled with Cesena’s draw against Frosinone on Sunday, the result leaves Bari ahead of the Seahorses on goal difference and again in control of their destiny with five games left.

To ensure they capitalise on the opportunities Longo referenced on Friday night, the Pugliesi must desperately find some consistency- starting with a trip to Sudtirol on Easter Monday.

Bari haven’t won two games in a row since they beat Salernitana and Cittadella at the end of November and their only saving grace is that Palermo and Cesena, their closest rivals for a play-off spot, have been as inconsistent as they have.

But prone as the pair have been to fluff their lines at key stages this season, relying on your opponents to make a mistake remains a dangerous strategy for Bari and Longo is well aware the win over the Palermo by no means guarantees a spot in the top eight.

“We need to learn how manage the remainder of the season with great composure,” he said.

“We’re taking it one game at a time; that’s got to be our vibe if we want to get good results.”

Still, the green shoots for Bari are obvious. After scoring just six goals in their previous seven outings, the Galletti have found the net five teams over the past two weeks with Simic, a centre-back by trade, scoring twice in his last three appearances.

Cesar Falletti, meanwhile, has forced his way back into Longo’s plans, starting two of the last three games after playing just 22 minutes of football in the previous six weeks and the Uruguayan could have a big role to play over the next five matches.

If Bari travel north with a feeling of mild optimism, a sense of trepidation surrounds Sudtirol. Winless in their past four, the Tyroleans have won just once in their last seven and last weekend’s 2-1 defeat away against Salernitana left them 15th on the table.

Fabrizio Castori’s men are level on points with Sampdoria and Cittadella, who would currently contest the relegation play-off if the season were to end now. Sudtirol hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Blucerchiati and are clear of the Granata only on goal difference, with Salernitana only two points behind the trio.

A draw on Easter Monday may suit neither Sudtirol nor Bari, which is bad news for the Galletti, who have drawn 17 times this season, the second-most in Serie B behind Catanzaro.

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