BLACKBURN ROVERS PREVIEW

16 February 2021

The action doesn't stop for the Reds as we're back on home soil for a midweek clash with our friends from across the Pennines.

On Wednesday 17 February we welcome Blackburn Rovers under the Oakwell lights in a 7.45pm kick-off as our Sky Bet Championship campaign continues at a pace.

Unbeaten in their last three league outings, Barnsley are hoping to keep building momentum following some impressive showings in recent weeks; displays that weren't quite rewarded in terms of results.

But the Reds come into this clash in great mood having travelled to high-flying Brentford on Sunday and comfortably swept aside the division's form-team who were beaten for the first time since October in the second tier.

That road-win against one of the league's fancied outfits coupled with the outstanding performance against Chelsea a few days prior will have certainly eased any fears of a poor second half to the season, with Head Coach, Valérien Ismaël convinced the great work done in the last three months sees his side set fair to compete with anyone in the division.

Goals from forwards Conor Chaplin (his first in 99 days) and Carlton Morris (his first for the club) will have been pleasing for the gaffer also, coming away from Brentford with that 2-0 victory. The Reds now have a much deeper pool in which to dip into in terms of squad options.

The imminent return of defender Aapo Halme should only strengthen Ismaël's hand too as we navigate our way through a very congested few weeks of fixtures.

On Wednesday evening then, Barnsley go head-to-head with Tony Mowbray's exciting Blackburn Rovers team who are three places above the Reds who are now 12th, but have accrued the same number of wins, draws, defeats and therefore points.

Their much better goal difference sees them 9th and seven points shy of the final playoff spot currently occupied by a faltering Bournemouth.

Rovers have lost back-to-back league games so far in February but they have won two of their last three away fixtures, including a terrific 1-0 victory at an in-form Middlesbrough.

Like the Reds, it's been an inconsistent campaign for the Ewood Park club and the next few weeks will determine whether or not they're capable of pushing on for a playoff run or not.

In the reverse fixture in Lancashire at the back end of November last year, Barnsley were massively profligate in front of goal and ended up losing a game they'd dominated for lengthy spells, 2-1, thanks to some pretty average defending to say the least.

Earning back-to-back clean sheets for the third time under Ismaël shows things are looking tighter at the rearguard of this high-energy Reds side and they'll be warmed by the knowledge that Rovers have failed to score on their last two trips to Oakwell - both 2-0 defeats in 2016 and 2020.

It will be a tough ask to make it three consecutive shutouts for the first time in 20/21 with Blackburn possessing one of the division's most potent strikers in ex-Reds loanee Adam Armstrong.

The former Newcastle United man was on target in that November defeat at Ewood Park.

Club News

WATCH THE REDS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

16 February 2021

iFollow Barnsley is the place to be for Reds supporters on Wednesday night, with Match Passes on sale now, as Matt Bailey talks you through the action in this Roses clash under the lights!

Match Reports

REDS EARN DESERVED WIN AGAINST BLACKBURN

17 February 2021

Barnsley recorded back-to-back wins and made it four Sky Bet Championship games unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening.

Carlton Morris' fine strike 18 minutes from time was added to in the final minute by Alex Mowatt, before Adam Armstrong’s last gasp consolation, as the Reds climbed to 10th in the table.

After a cagey opening exchange, it was Barnsley who registered the first real attempt in anger as Conor Chaplin took the ball down on his chest and unleashed a fierce strike at goal from 20-yards that Thomas Kaminski parried away.

Shortly after, Cauley Woodrow rose highest to meet Callum Styles’ outswinging corner but he headed narrowly over as the Reds looked to gain an advantage.

Midway through the half, Romal Palmer took aim from the edge of the box but his effort whistled just beyond the upright.

Barnsley continued to carve out opportunities and Victor Adeboyejo was next to try his luck when he latched onto a quickly taken free-kick and bent one from a tight angle that Kaminski tipped onto the bar.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-0 Blackburn Rovers

Moments after being introduced from the bench, Carlton Morris had a half-chance inside the area but saw his effort charged down by a Rovers defender.

The triple change made by Valérien Ismaël appeared to be having the desired effect, with Daryl Dike, Dominik Frieser and the aforementioned Morris breathing new energy into Barnsley’s attack.

Mowatt whipped in a free-kick from the right and Mads Andersen’s header almost squirmed past Kaminski, who just managed to shovel it away from danger.

When the visitors only half-cleared a corner, Callum Brittain fired a deep cross to the far post that Michał Helik headed back across the face of goal, but no one in red was there to apply the finish.

The breakthrough eventually came, though, when the Blackburn defence stood off Morris and allowed him too much time to pick his spot from the edge of the box and he brilliantly bent it in off the far post.

Morris then had another opportunity to double the Reds’ lead a few minutes later, but his low strike was comfortably saved by Kaminski.

Barnsley continued to push forward for a second goal, and Herbie Kane tried his luck from distance but his rising effort cleared the cross bar with time ticking away.

Eventually, the killer goal finally arrived when Dike laid a fine pass into the path of Mowatt, who burst into the area, rounded Kaminski and slotted home.

However, Armstrong made for a nervy finale when he latched onto a through ball before deftly lobbing the onrushing Collins in stoppage time, but the Reds held on for all three points.

REDS XI: Collins (GK), Sibbick, Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Palmer (Kane, 63), Mowatt (c), Styles (J Williams, 46), Chaplin (Frieser, 55), Woodrow (Dike, 55), Adeboyejo (Morris, 55).

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

ROVERS XI: Kaminiski (GK), Downing (Evans, 75), Armstrong, Gallagher, Douglas, Harwood-Bellis, Dack (Elliott, 75), Lenihan (c), Travis (Rothwell, 84), Branthwaite, Bennett (Dolan, 75).

Not used: Pears (GK), Bell, Davenport, Brereton, Buckley.