Barnsley have suprised a few this season after many pundits had tipped them to be in or just above the relegation places. However, they currently sit mid-table and have dismantled higher placed teams such as Leeds, Leicester & Burnley during purple patches of form. Under the man who led Rochdale to League Two promotion, Keith Kill, the Tykes have shown some real promise but a lack of consistency means they'll probably fall short of the play-off places come the end of the season. Barnsley's form has been good of late. Two wins in three outings including victories over high-flying Leicester City & Derby. After signing from League Two Chesterfield in the summer, Craig Davies has now found his feet in the Championship. Often partnered alongside the pacy Ricardo Vaz Te, Davies has now scored 9 goals in his 17 starts after a slow start. I saw him live in a match against Ipswich town and was impressed. Barnsley lost out, but Davies scored a brace which included a bending free-kick. His set piece's will be a thread on Saturday. Coming off a win, Barnsley won't be expected to make any changes. Ricardo Vaz Te may have commanded a position in the starting XI but has left the building for West Ham in a deadline day deal. Watford are in the same position as the visitors, having defeated Millwall. Sean Murray & new-boy Alex Kalicanik performed well in the wide areas. Long term absentees Martin Taylor & Steve McGinn remain the only missing first-team members. I think we've got what it takes to beat Barnsley at home. With Sordell leaving, Garner will get the chance to show what he can do. If your not going to this game - get there. We were in good numbers & loud when Spurs came to our place. I can see no reason why this can't be the same.
This could be a big big win for us this weekend. 3 points with some of the other games going on will put some daylight between us and 4 or 5 other teams. West Ham V Millwall - WH win Bristol City V Leeds United DRAW Burnley V Peterborough BURN WIN Coventry V Ipswich IPS WIN Doncaster V Reading READ - WIN Portsmouth V Hull - DRAW Watford V Barnsley WFC WIN Derby V Nottm Forest - Derby win Barnsley are no push overs but theres no reason why we can't beat them
Agreed that this is a big game for us, especially as it's at home as well I will be very disappointed with anything but 3 points. Not taking Barnsley lightly at all though they had a blinding first half at Derby midweek so we need to get at them from the start. With a win this weekend we could potentially be 12 points clear of relegation. Hopefully we will start with the same starting 11 against Millwall, but would like to see Buaben come on sooner in the 2nd half.
Very good preview Axwell, this game is going to be very important. Hopefully we can stop Barnsley playing and hit them on the counter attack. Would like to see Murray and Kaca start on the wings again as they are quite frankly exceptional players (from what I have seen and heard). Would like to see Forysth on the bench instead of Iwelumo and we could use him as a striker. I call 2-1 to the Horns with Garner and Murray scoring. But equally I would be happy with a point.
Same team except the Prince in for one of the middle two. Being at home I don't think we need two players protecting the back four. Get Prince involved up the pitch! He still does a decent job getting back anyway.
We havent drawn in 19 games! And our first half results would see us promoted. And, we are a better equipped team away from home, where we have had some cracking results. So if you guys are to beat us, you need to get in our faces from the start, and get the first goal. We have gained just ONE point all season from losing positions - ironically, against you at Oakwell early season. Craig Davies isnt our key man though. We have no key players. We are a team, and that team ethic is the key. But if you need to keep anybody quiet, its David Perkins, or Matty Done. Good luck people, and I shall go for a rare draw, just to be civil
Dom - I, too would try and turn Forsyth into a centre-forward. He must be a better option as a target man striker than the failing Iwelumo.
I had hoped that Forsyth could become a championship winger but after seeing him at Reading I realised he wasn't a winger. He is good in the air, he is strong and he can use his feet which would be great for a striker. I like Iwelumo however he doesn't seem to be able to cut it here unfortunatey.
A Barnsley friend of mine was horrified at the thought of coming up against Sordell again. He was fairly quiet when we played them at their place despite scoring our goal. He scored for the U21's at Oakwell with a fine 25-30 yard strike. Barnsley concede a lot of goals but Craig Davies has been fantastic this season. Big Andy Gray scored their equalising goal against us at Oakwell with a simple head in from 5/10 yards out after ****o was caught out at left back which allowed the cross to come in. I'm hoping Doyley will start again, he is a fine one on one defender and with Mapps and Nos at the back, we SHOULD deal with any aerial threat better than we did at Oakwell. Their main man in the 1-1 draw though was Perkins. I hadn't seen him before until that game, but he is a very energetic central midfielder who breaks up play well and isn't afraid to run at defender. Also a fantastic passer of the ball. Hopefully Hogg will have him in check. If we can get a goal or two I think we can win this one. We need to take our chances because if you give them a sniff, Barnsley will score and then have the confidence to just attack attack attack. Most teams understimate them and they are actually a very organised side who are just 6 points off playoffs.
He and Drinkwater were surprisingly good in the middle. He's definately the one to watch out for if he plays against us. One of the best players i've seen this season as well.
That Butterfield had a good game up there as well from what I remember but he is out for the season now. It'll be a tough game, but I fancy us to score a couple. 2-1. Garner and Deeney again.
Was impressed with Butterfield last season at VR when I'd never heard of him. Take a draw here and at Forest.
I'm want at least 4 points from the next two games. Let's get these points as early as possible so the kids can have a run out in April.
Touch wood, but we always balls these "winnable" games up, anyone remember S****horpe at home last season?
Agree with a previous post, 4 points from the next 6 available should be aimed at, however there is no reason playing the way we have that we cannot pick up a couple of wins. I'm confident of tomorrow, Garner has found some form, the introduction of Murray has increased our attackive threat, and suddenly the squad seems to have a little more quality about it. First things first, we need to make sure we defend well as a unit, banks of four and all that and close them down. Since Nos has come in, apart from B'ham away, we have been very solid at the back. Get that right then its just a case of taking our chances. Clearly, without sordell that will be difficult, but Bauben, Deeney, Garner and Murray can all find the net. Also as a little bit of a sidenote, on the official website, Dyche comments that Witchelow is rated highly and after this months loan, he will be close to a return for the first team. Good news.
Why should four points be 'aimed at'!? Six points should be aimed at, but four would be a decent return.
Agree with Bubble, six should absolutely be the target and four the minimum. Barnsley are no mugs but it is a very winnable game especially with the shake up Dyche has given the team.
Two winnable games coming up and then 5 very tough ones, important to get 4-6 points from the next 2 games. Could learn a lot about the team tomorrow, chance to put together a decent run? or will we revert to type and throw away winnable games at home? (a la S****horpe, Derby etc.)
HORNETS: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Nosworthy, Doyley; Murray, Eustace (c), Hogg, Kacaniklic; Deeney, Garner. Subs: Bond (GK), Yeates, Iwelumo, ****inson, Buaben. BARNSLEY: Steele; Edwards (c), Foster, McNulty, Wiseman; Done, Perkins, Smith, Tonge; Gray, Davies. Subs: Preece (GK), Hassell, Doyle, Dagnall, Golbourne.
Great to see that we held on at the end of the game too. Always nervous when the opposition score right before the end, especially when it's Watford.
