The Reds will look to put an end to their recent dip in form when they host South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers at Oakwell tonight.
Following three wins on the bounce, Danny Wilson’s men have tasted back-to-back defeats in their last two outings against Chesterfield and Scunthorpe which leaves them sitting just three points above the League One relegation zone.
With eight points now separating the Reds and the play-off places, a third win in six at Oakwell would be very welcome against a Doncaster side sitting just one place behind Wilson’s side.
Only goal difference divides the two South Yorkshire Clubs following a recent improvement in form for Donny, which has seen them lose just once in their last six outings in all competitions.
The Club’s 1-1 draw at Crewe on Saturday extended their unbeaten run in league and cup to three games, but manager Paul Dickov will be looking to extend that to four when they travel the short distance to Barnsley.
The trip will be Rovers’ fourth game in a row away from the Keepmoat Stadium but with two wins and a draw in their last three, they will be eager to continue their fine record on the road this season and pick up a sixth victory in 10 away league games.
Previous Meetings
Both Barnsley and Doncaster will be hoping to take the initiative on Tuesday evening after the two sides failed to be separated last season.
Following a goalless draw at Oakwell, it was much more entertaining affair at the Keepmoat as forward Nick Proschwitz rescued a point for the Reds with his second goal of the game after James Coppinger had put Doncaster ahead with a brace of his own.
That result continued a trend of draws between the two sides in recent seasons, with two of the last three clashes at Oakwell ending as stalemates.
In November 2011 the Reds did enjoy home success against their South Yorkshire counterparts however, as Craig Davies struck a double to earn a 2-0 home win for Barnsley.
You have to go back nearly five years for Doncaster’s last victory at Oakwell though, with long-serving midfielder Coppinger netting the only goal of the game.
Team News
Barnsley will be without in-form striker Sam Winnall for the visit of Doncaster after the forward pulled his hamstring against former club Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Winnall – who has netted eight times this season – is set to miss the next month of action, and joins a growing injury list at Oakwell with both Ryan Williams (groin) and Peter Ramage (leg) doubts for Tuesday night’s clash.
Also missing from the Reds line-up will be captain Martin Cranie, following the defender’s fifth booking of the season against Scunthorpe.
Jean-Yves M’voto and Reece Brown will be battling it out to replace the Barnsley skipper with Wilson set to shuffle his defence against Rovers.
Visitors Doncaster have no fresh injury or suspension concerns however, as they aim to make it four unbeaten in all competitions at Oakwell.
Man in the Middle
Nigel Miller will take charge of his fifth League One game of the season on Tuesday night. The County Durham-based official has officiated 13 matches in total this time out but is yet to show a red card despite brandishing 35 yellows. The Reds faithful will be welcome hosts however, with Barnsley winning seven of the 12 Reds’ games in which Miller has officiated in the past including the Tykes’ 3-2 win at Derby in 2009 and their 4-1 rout of Preston a year later. The referee was the man in the middle for just one of Barnsley’s league and cup games last season but on that occasion it did not end as handsomely, with Nicky Maynard and Martyn Waghorn striking in a 2-0 win for Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Their Star Man
Experienced midfielder James Coppinger has been a regular name on the Doncaster team sheet once again this season, in what is now his 11thcampaign with Rovers. Since his move to South Yorkshire in 2004 from Exeter the playmaker has made 329 league starts for the Club, scoring 38 times; the last of which came in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Crewe. The 33-year-old – who scored a double against the Reds last season – has been in impressive form of late for Tuesday evening’s visitors, having netted twice in his last three appearances. With four goals to his name in total already this season Coppinger’s experience and knack of scoring big goals will be vital over the coming season if Rovers are to climb the League One ladder.
Mutual Man
Iain Hume is a player Barnsley fans will never forget. The Canadian international arrived at Oakwell in June 2008 for a fee in excess of £1million from the recently relegated Championship side Leicester City. With an ever-growing reputation Hume netted just five minutes into his Barnsley debut against QPR but was then sent off on his home debut against Coventry a week later.
It was in his 16thReds appearance that the Tranmere Rovers youth product really touched the hearts of the Barnsley faithful, following a collision with Sheffield United defender Chris Morgan which ended with the forward fighting for his life. Despite going home on the evening of the game, Hume was admitted to hospital the following day and immediately received surgery for a fractured skull.
Nine months later however, and the former Preston North End man returned to action and scored five times in the 2009-10 campaign including the winner against Blackpool in a 1-0 success and a brace in the Club’s 2-2 draw with Peterborough. Despite that the 31-year-old joined Preston on loan in September 2010 and after impressing at Deepdale that move was made permanent in January 2011.
Hume went onto fire 22 goals for North End during a two-year stay but in August 2012 he signed on loan for Doncaster. In a season in which the forward netted only seven times, it was one to remember, as Donny clinched the League One title with Hume’s work ethic and commitment highly commended. The Edinburgh-born attacker returned to Deepdale at the end of that successful campaign and scored twice last season for North End before a temporary move to Fleetwood Town.
Hume departed Preston in the summer – four years after joining the Club – but the versatile frontman was quickly snapped up; joining David James and Michael Chopra at Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.
