BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

Barnsley will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games when they travel to Fulham for the first time in just over 16 years this weekend.

Three wins and two draws from their last five outings means the Reds have not tasted defeat since mid-December and with just two losses in their last 12 league games, confidence is high at Oakwell.

That form has left the Club only four points outside the play-off places and having won their last two on the road in the Championship, Paul Heckingbottom’s men will be eager to push even closer to the top six on Saturday.

Hosts Fulham will have similar ideas however, with the Cottagers sitting just two points behind the Reds in 10th place.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have suffered defeat only once in their last six league games; winning three and drawing two.

Despite that loss coming in the Club’s last home match against league leaders Brighton, the Cottagers had gone six unbeaten at Craven Cottage prior to that defeat.

With the 2010 Europa League finalists also scoring in each of their last eight home games, it has the potential to be an exciting affair by the Thames. 

The Reds will be eager to avenge October’s home defeat against the Cottagers this weekend.

Despite leading twice at Oakwell, it was the Londoners who took all three points after second-half efforts from Scott Malone and Chris Martin secured a 4-2 win against 10-man Barnsley.

Victory also extended Fulham’s unbeaten run in this fixture to three games but with that clash the first between the Clubs since February 2001, you have to go back nearly 17 years for Barnsley’s last success in this fixture.

That was in March 2000 when Neil Shipperley’s first-half effort completed a league double for the Reds and with it, Barnsley’s 31st triumph against Fulham.

Despite earning a 3-1 away win in that 1999-2000 season, the Tykes have not enjoyed the best of times by the Thames; losing on four of their last six visits to Craven Cottage.

With Andy Yiadom away on international duty, Aidy White could make his first league start since September this weekend.

The left-back made his return to the starting XI at Blackpool last Saturday and after playing the full 90 minutes, he looks set to get the nod once again.

Elsewhere, Stefan Payne will be hoping to be involved against his former side, while Ryan Kent, Ryan Williams and Adam Armstrong will be pushing for recalls.

Fulham will be without Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano, with the duo, like Barnsley’s Yiadom, away at the African Cup of Nations. 

The Cottagers could also be missing on-loan Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas once again due to a hamstring problem, while fellow defender Michael Madl is a doubt.

Former Barnsley loanee David Button, defender Scott Malone and giant forward Matt Smith are all set to return however after being rested in the FA Cup last weekend.

Barnsley will be hoping to continue their unbeaten record in the company of referee Andy Davies this evening.

The Hampshire-based official has overseen two Reds’ games in the past; with the Reds beating Crewe 2-1 in August 2014 and drawing 0-0 at Burton Albion last April.

Although this will be the official’s first meeting with Barnsley of the season, Davies has already overseen two Fulham games this term.

In August he took charge of the Cottagers’ 3-2 win at Leyton Orient, before watching over their 2-1 home loss against Bristol City a month later.

Davies – who also oversaw a Fulham draw against Rotherham in 2015 – has taken charge of 24 games in total this term; showing 86 yellow cards and four reds.

When he was substituted 32 minutes into his Fulham debut against Birmingham at Craven Cottage, not many Fulham fans would have predicted that Stefan Johansen would go onto become their key player this season.

Signed from Celtic in August for an undisclosed fee, the Norwegian international might have made a less than impressive start to his time with the Cottagers but by mid-October and he was one of the first names on the team sheet.

Three days after making his second league start for the Club against Barnsley, Johansen netted his first goal for Fulham in a 2-2 draw against Norwich.

Despite failing to score in his next five outings, the 26-year-old midfielder continued to be a regular for the Cottagers with his crisp passing and impressive ability to link defence and attack.

With his performances going from strength to strength, the heartbeat of Fulham’s midfield has now added goals to his game; hitting five in his last seven games including an emphatic finish against Cardiff last weekend in the FA Cup. 

Having also provided five assists so far this season, the former Celtic man has showcased in just a very short period of time that he has what it takes to play at the highest level of the English game.

In November 2014 Barnsley completed the loan signing of striker Marcello Trotta from Saturday’s hosts Fulham.

The Italian joined the Reds having previously spent time on loan with Wycombe, Watford and most successfully Brentford, for whom he scored 13 times during the 2013-14 campaign.

Trotta made his Reds debut in a 5-0 victory against Burton Albion in the FA Cup but despite his goals for Brentford and his impressive return of eight goals in eight games while at Wycombe, he netted just once in the red of Barnsley.

Unfortunately that goal came in a 2-1 defeat against Scunthorpe at Oakwell and although the ex-Napoli youngster started five of his seven games in South Yorkshire, he returned to Fulham ahead of the January transfer window.

Following that spell the former Italy U21 international completed a return to his homeland, penning a two-and-a-half year deal with Serie B outfit AS Avellino in January 2015.

The 24-year-old never made a start for the Cottagers, making just three substitute appearances in total but despite that, the powerful front man scored a total of 31 goals in 88 appearances during his stay in England.

A year after joining Avellino, Trotta completed a move to Serie A side Sassuolo but so far this term, he has scored two goals in 12 appearances for fellow top flight side Crotone in a loan move until the end of the season.

Barnsley's last five away from home: (WLWWD)

Birmingham City 0-3 Barnsley

Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Barnsley

Cardiff 3-4 Barnsley

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Barnsley

Blackpool 0-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)

Fulham’s last five at home: ()DWWDL

Fulham 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Fulham 5-0 Reading

Fulham 2-1 Rotherham United

Fulham 2-2 Derby County

Fulham 1-2 Brighton

Fulham plays at Craven Cottage, its address is as follows:

By Car:

From the North:

At the end of the M1, turn right (west) onto the A406 (North Circular) and follow it towards Harrow for nearly 4.5 miles. Turn left (east) onto the A40 heading into London (passing close to Loftus Road) and after a little over 4 miles turn right (west) onto the A402 for just about 350 yards. Here you turn left (south) along the A219 for a little over half a mile. This brings you into Hammersmith where you turn right onto the A315 and then after just 130 yards or so turn left (south) back onto the A219. Follow this road for a little over a mile, and the ground down the side streets off to your right. 

Or...

Leave the M25 at Junction 15 and take the M4, which then becomes the A4, towards Central London. After around two miles branch off left into Hammersmith Broadway (before the flyover). Go around the ring road around central Hammersmith, keeping to the right. Then take the A219 Fulham Palace Road. Keep straight on this road, passing Charing Cross Hospital on your left. After about another half a mile, take one of the right hand turns for the ground. If you pass the Fulham Palace Garden Centre on your right, then you have gone too far. 

Leave the M25 at Junction 10 and take the A3 towards Central London. After around eight miles, leave the A3 at the turn off for the A219. Take the A219 towards Putney. Continue straight on this road, down Putney High Street and across Putney Bridge. You will see the ground on your left. 

Parking around Craven Cottage is extremely limited and access to the surrounding streets on a matchday is restricted by a Traffic Management Order. 

There is a one-hour maximum stay policy for non-residential pay and display visitors between 9am and 9.30pm on all Monday to Sunday matchdays, including Bank Holidays. 

The closest mainline railway station to Craven Cottage is Putney, located on Putney High Street, south of the River Thames. 

The station is 17 – 35 min walk from the stadium, passing many shops, bars and ATM machines en route. 

The station can be easily reached by train from other railway hubs, including Clapham Junction (5 min) and Waterloo (13 min).

The closest station to Craven Cottage, Putney Bridge is approximately a 10 – 20 min walk from the stadium. 

Exit the station, turn left and follow the road (Ranelagh Gardens). Walk through the underpass into Bishops Park. Follow the path through Bishops Park, along the river until you reach the stadium. 

Adult: £20.00

Senior Over 65: £15.00

Young Adult (18-21): £15.00

Juvenile Under 18: £10.00

Coach departs Oakwell at 9.30am prompt priced at £27 per seat. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over. Strictly no alcohol permitted.

For those who aren't heading to the capital, we will have LIVE and uninterrupted commentary from Craven Cottage over on Barnsley Player HD.