All the pre-match information ahead of the final home clash of the season!
Barnsley will look to sign off from Oakwell in style when they host Burton Albion in the final home match of the league season.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last five at home but with all of them ending as draws, Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be eager to record their seventh Oakwell league win of the season.
Visitors Burton arrive in South Yorkshire brimming with confidence following back-to-back wins which have all but guaranteed the Club’s Championship safety.
After defeating relegation rivals Birmingham City on Easter Monday, Nigel Clough’s men secured a 2-1 victory against Leeds last weekend.
That leaves them six points above the drop zone and with the Brewers losing just once in their last six away games, they will be keen to extend that good form and earn the point which will see them play Championship football again next season.
Previous Meetings
The Reds will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run against the Brewers when the two sides meet for just the fifth time.
There have been two Barnsley wins and two draws since the Clubs first met in November 2014.
On that occasion the Reds secured a 5-0 FA Cup triumph, while last season a Conor Hourihane penalty was enough to earn Barnsley a second consecutive Oakwell win against the Brewers.
Burton did avoid a third straight loss in the reverse fixture however, with the game ending goalless at the Pirelli Stadium and when the sides crossed paths earlier this season, it once again ended 0-0 in Staffordshire despite it being an entertaining fixture.
After those draws the Reds will be out to make it three wins on the bounce at Oakwell against the Brewers, while Nigel Clough’s side will be eager to score their first ever goal in this fixture and ensure Championship survival for next season.
Team News
The Reds will have Matty James available for selection once again after the midfielder missed last Saturday’s defeat at Bristol City due to the birth of his son.
With both Alex Mowatt and George Moncur finding the back of the net at Ashton Gate however, Paul Heckingbottom has some big decisions to make in midfield.
Elsewhere, Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Williams will be pushing for starts but Adam Hammill and Andy Yiadom remain on the sidelines along with the confirmed news from Paul Heckingbottom that skipper Marc Roberts will not feature again this season due to injury.
Burton could be without first choice goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin for the second game running after the stopper suffered an arm injury against Birmingham on Easter Monday.
Stephen Bywater replaced him in that game and after helping the Brewers to a 2-1 win against Leeds last weekend he will be ready to deputise once again.
Michael Kightly came off the bench to score and set one up in that game and he will be hoping that was enough to earn him a starting berth.
Their Star Man
He may have only arrived in English football back in July but Jackson Irvine has enjoyed a fantastic debut season since moving south of the border.
The Australian midfielder joined the Brewers from Ross County after helping them win the Scottish League Cup; penning a three-year deal with Nigel Clough’s side after a Club-record transfer fee was agreed.
After making his debut against Bury in the EFL Cup, Irvine went onto net four goals in his first eight games including an historic winner against local rivals Derby County.
The 24-year-old has continued to add goals to his game throughout the campaign and he currently leads the Club’s goal scoring charts on 10.
Irvine’s ability and versatility has not gone unnoticed, with the former Celtic youth player now a regular in the Australian national team squad, while he has also been linked with a move to several Premier League Clubs.
With the Brewers all but guaranteed to be playing in the second tier again next term however, Clough will be desperate to hang onto his star man this summer and begin building a team around him.
Mutual Man
Much-travelled frontman, Chris O’Grady arrived at Oakwell in January of 2013 on loan from local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The tall and powerful striker had worked with Reds manager David Flitcroft at former club Rochdale and he got the best out of the Nottingham-born target man, as O’Grady helped the Reds to a ‘Great Escape’, scoring six goals as Barnsley climbed away from relegation; one of the goals coming in a crucial final day shootout with neighbours Huddersfield Town, earning the point that saved the Reds from relegation.
Chris signed permanently with the Club that summer and despite a poor season for Barnsley which culminated in relegation, O’Grady scored 15 goals and earned himself a move to Brighton.
His time at Brighton has never got going and he’s since spent time with Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and now Burton Albion on loan but without the success he enjoyed in front of goal in Barnsley colours.
He has played just 26 games this season for the Brewers, scoring just the one goal. But if selected it is without doubt that he will give his all against the Reds, as he did for us during his 18 months as a Red.
Form Guide
Barnsley’s last five at home: (DDDDD)
Barnsley 1-1 Huddersfield (25/2/2017)
Barnsley 1-1 Ipswich (11/3/2017)
Barnsley 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (1/4/2017)
Barnsley 0-0 Cardiff (4/4/2017)
Barnsley 1-1 Brentford (17/4/2017)
Burton’s last five away from home: (DDWLW)
Bristol City 0-0 Burton Albion (4/3/2017)
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Burton Albion (7/3/2017)
Huddersfield 0-1 Burton Albion (1/4/2017)
Newcastle 1-0 Burton Albion (5/4/2017)
Birmingham City 0-2 Burton Albion (17/4/2017)
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