The Reds welcome the Cod Army to Oakwell on Saturday 13th March for a 3pm kick-off in Sky Bet League One and we've got it covered here in our match preview!

After four months without defeat, last weekend signalled an end to that terrific 20-game unbeaten league run. 

Going down 3-1 away at Burton Albion following a very disappointing performance, Barnsley will need to react quickly as they welcome Fleetwood Town to Oakwell with automatic promotion now out of their own hands. 

The defeat at the Pirelli Stadium, coupled with victories for both Sunderland and Portsmouth mean that Daniel Stendel's side are now playing catch-up in the race for the Championship.

Now sitting third in the table, the Reds are a point behind the Black Cats who also still have a game in-hand on us. As do Pompey, who are currently two points behind. Even Charlton Athletic, such has been their good form of late, could make a late run as they're just three points behind Barnsley having played the same number (41) of games.

Saturday's visitors from the Fylde coast are 11th in Sky Bet League One at present, with their faint hopes of a play-off place fading fast after last weekend's 2-2 draw with Southend Utd at Highbury. 

They had to fight back twice from a goal down in that one, with top scorer Ched Evans grabbing a brace against the Shrimpers. 

Previous to that they'd won two on the spin, with victories over Accrington and Plymouth. However, with the Cod Army ten points off sixth position, their chances of a top six finish are looking very slim going into this weekend's clash.

Ahead of the fixture, both Dale Tonge and Liam Lindsay met the media in midweek and their pre-match press conference videos are available to subscribers over on iFollow Barnsley.

With no fresh injury concerns, Reds' Head Coach, Daniel Stendel has plenty of options from which to choose from as he looks to regain a winning formula after two games without. 

For Fleetwood, led by former England cap Joey Barton, Saturday represents a challenge for his side, but one that he believes the visitors will relish. 

He spoke to their official website this week, ahead of the big clash: 

“They (Barnsley) are one of the top sides in the division," Barton explained.

"We gave a good account of ourselves in the game at home, and 3-1 was probably fortunate for them. They were a physical and powerful side but we were right in that game.

"Barnsley came down from the Championship, and it is no surprise to see them in the position that they are.

“They have many strengths, but like any team, they do have a vulnerability to them. We have to be 100% going there, we cannot be flaky in any fashion.

"The league table at this stage of the season doesn’t lie and I just hope we go there and give a really good account of ourselves. If we do that, it should be a fantastic game.”

In the reverse fixture earlier this season, the Reds ran out 3-1 winners in what was a competitive contest. Despite former Reds youngster Harrison Biggins opening the scoring, goals from Jacob Brown, Kieffer Moore and Mama Thiam saw Stendel's side to a September success at the seaside.

Interestingly, in just eight previous meetings, Barnsley are still to beat Fleetwood on home soil, and in fact a 2-1 defeat at Oakwell saw the end of Danny Wilson's second spell as Reds manager.