MIDDLESBROUGH PREVIEW

8 April 2021

The record-breaking Reds return to Oakwell this weekend for a Sky Bet Championship encounter with Boro.

Getting back to winning ways on Easter Monday helped Barnsley to maintain their push for a spot in end-of-season playoffs.

The 2-1 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road sealed a sixth straight away win, a club record, but it was a game the Reds dominated and should have won more simply, but for some late, self-inflicted drama.

Daryl Dike's second successive brace on the road was enough for all three points in the end, and now Barnsley must try and improve their home form which has deserted them of late.

Not since March 6 have we picked up maximum points at Oakwell. That was a 1-0 triumph over Birmingham City, where Dike's exocet missile proved the difference.

Since then, the Reds have been held twice by Derby County and Reading in evening clashes and defeated by lowly Sheffield Wednesday in a South Yorkshire derby in between.

That remains Barnsley's only loss in the last 15 games, and came on a day where nothing went right for Valérien Ismaël's side and all that could go wrong, did.

The Reds will have the opportunity to arrest that home form on Saturday against a visiting Boro outfit who've lost on all three of their most recent league visits to Oakwell.

Currently 10th in the Sky Bet Championship standings, having been in the playoffs as recently as Christmas, the Teessiders, led by the wily veteran Neil Warnock will be no pushovers this weekend.

With a pair of former Reds loanees in their ranks, in the shape of Ashley Fletcher and Sam Morsy, amongst a squad littered with quality performers, Middlesbrough are a match for anyone on their day.

But they're winless in their last three fixtures, making any late run for a top-six place looking a very outside prospect.

Ex-Reds winger Warnock, into his 40th year in management has certainly steered the North East side into calmer waters, having initially taken the role late last season, helping them to safety alongside the Reds.

In the reverse meeting up at the Riverside, it was the hosts who ran out 2-1 winners in what would prove to be the final match in charge of Barnsley for the New York-bound Gerhard Struber.

When meeting in this fixture last season, in what was one of our final games at a fan-attended Oakwell prior to the impact of COVID-19, a Conor Chaplin strike saw the Reds to a precious 1-0 victory.

The Reds are still fifth in the table going into this one, three points above Bournemouth (7th) and two ahead of Reading (6th). But they're now just a point behind Swansea (4th) and trail Brentford (3rd) by two.

Club News

WATCH REDS VS BORO

7 April 2021

There will be live coverage of Saturday's clash on iFollow Barnsley, with Matt Bailey joined by Wayne Goodison and Callum Cooper - grab your Match Pass today!

Match Reports

REDS EASE PAST BORO AT OAKWELL

10 April 2021

Barnsley tightened their grip on a play-off spot with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.

Second half goals from Alex Mowatt and Daryl Dike were enough to seal all three points as the Reds moved five points clear of seventh place Reading with five games remaining.

There was an early scare for Barnsley when Duncan Watmore latched onto Toby Sibbick’s header back to Brad Collins, but fortunately his effort was straight at the Reds’ keeper as both sides found their feet in the opening exchanges.

A succession of corners almost resulted in Barnsley making a breakthrough as Alex Mowatt’s inswinger caused chaos before Dominik Frieser saw his attempted blocked.

The skipper then tried his luck on the half-volley from 25-yards as both teams were restricted to limited clear cut scoring opportunities.

It was the Reds who looked more likely to make the breakthrough and Michał Helik was next to go close when his snapshot deflected off the legs of a defender and was gathered low down by Marcus Bettinelli.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-0 Middlesbrough

Valérien Ismaël opted to bring on Carlton Morris at the interval, with Frieser making way as the Reds searched for a more physical presence up front.

The visitors looked lively after the restart and within ten minutes worked a fine opening when the ever-dangerous Watmore worked space inside the area and played a low ball across the box that no one could get on the end of.

Just after the hour mark, Barnsley went ahead as Mowatt’s inswinging corner beat everyone and nestled into the far corner.

It was an effort not too dissimilar to the one that was contentiously ruled out against Reading on Good Friday, but the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for March netted his eighth of a productive campaign.

Moments after being seemingly cleaned out by Bettinelli, Dike was in the wars once more as Mowatt’s devilish delivery from left flank flashed right across the face of goal with our on-loan American forward ending up in the net in a heap.

A second goal soon arrived and it was that man, Dike, who got it. Mowatt hit a volley from the edge of the box into the ground and Morris’ close-range header was parried by Bettinelli. The visitors only half-cleared the ball, straight to Callum Brittain who fired a magnificent cross onto the head of Dike to power home from four yards.

Dike drilled an effort wide of the near post as Barnsley looked to add gloss to an impressive scoreline, but the points were well and truly safe as the Reds stay fifth.

REDS XI: Collins (GK), Sibbick, Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Palmer (Halme, 57), Mowatt (c), Styles, Frieser (Morris, 46), Dike, Woodrow (Chaplin, 57).

Not used: Walton (GK), J Williams, Sollbauer, Moon, Oduor, Adeboyejo.

BORO XI: Bettinelli (GK), Fisher, Hall, McNair, Bola (Johnson, 80), Spence (Coulson, 80), Howson (c), Saville, Kebano (Bolasie, 69), Watmore (Assombalonga, 69), Akpom (Fletcher, 69).

Not used: Archer (GK).