The Reds will have another chance to save their fading play-off hopes when they travel to Notts County on Tuesday night.
Following the Club’s 1-1 draw at home to Chesterfield on Saturday – which did end their two-match losing streak - Barnsley are without a win in six games and sit seven points outside the top six in 10th place.
With 12 points left to play for however, Lee Johnson’s men will continue to fight until the final seconds of the season but without a victory in their last three away from home, the Reds will need a much improved performance when they travel to Meadow Lane to take on a battling Notts County outfit.
The Magpies are currently stuck in the relegation zone but with four draws from their last four games – including Saturday’s stalemate at Yeovil – as well as the appointment of new manager Ricardo Moniz, the Club have fresh optimism ahead of their final five games.
Just one point separates County and League One safety but with only two wins in their last 13 games and with the Club currently on an eight-match winless run, a first win for new boss Moniz could not come at a better time as they target a first home success in nine outings.
Previous Meetings
Barnsley will be eager for an improvement in their recent form in this fixture when they take on the Magpies at Meadow Lane on Tuesday.
Despite winning 25 of the 65 clashes between the Clubs – compared to County’s 19 – they have failed to win in the last five league meetings including earlier this season when the Magpies won 3-2 at Oakwell after fighting back from two goals down to secure victory in the first game between the sides in 10 years.
Back in the 2003-04 campaign the Clubs could not be separated with a 1-1 draw at Oakwell after Paul Heffernan’s 90th minute strike cancelled out Dean Gorre’s opener for the Reds; while in Nottingham it also ended one-a-piece but this time it was Barnsley who netted a late equaliser after Kevin Betsy struck
three minutes from time from the penalty spot.
A third meeting during that season also ended as a stale mate, but that time the Reds claimed victory on penalties as they progressed 4-2 on spot kicks in the Football League Trophy.
A season earlier and the Reds failed to secure victory once again with a 0-0 home draw and a 3-2 defeat at Meadow Lane and you have to go all the way back to April 1995 for Barnsley’s last win in this fixture; beating the Magpies 3-1 after goals from Brendan O’Connell, Andy Liddell and Danny Wilson.
Team News
Sam Winnall will target his 12th goal of the season when the Reds face a struggling Notts County outfit on Tuesday.
The front man netted his 11th of the campaign in Saturday’s draw against Chesterfield, which was just the 24-year-old’s second strike since returning from injury.
Both George Waring and Jabo Ibehre will be battling it out to start alongside Winnall in the Barnsley attack, while Declan John may continue in a more advanced midfield role.
In defence, Peter Ramage returned to action for the first time in two months on Saturday and should retain his place with Jean Yves-Mvoto still out with a groin problem.
For hosts Notts County, on-loan striker Leroy Lita is ineligible under the terms of his loan move from the Reds.
James Spencer and top goal scorer Garry Thompson will continue to lead the line in Lita’s absence, while another former Barnsley man, Jamal Campbell-Ryce could start after being introduced at half time against Yeovil on Saturday.
Man in the Middle
Lancashire referee Graham Salisbury will take charge of his second Barnsley game of the season on Tuesday night. The official oversaw the Reds’ 2-1 home win against Port Vale in January; which was the 13th time he has ruled over a Reds game. Six wins have come Barnsley’s way during those matches, including a 2-1 success against Leeds United at Elland Road in November 2011 after strikes from Ricardo Vaz Te and Craig Davies.
Salisbury – who will be assisted by fourth official Christopher O’Donnell, as well as linesmen Thomas Kirk and David Richardson at Meadow Lane – has taken charge of 32 games in total this season; in which he has dished out 123 yellow cards and eight reds. Three of those dismissals came back in September when he sent off Paul Thirwell, Tom Naylor and Daniel Pudil in consecutive games. The Lancastrian then went a period of five months without showing red but has since reached for his back pocket another five times; two of which came on Saturday when Carlisle’s Troy Archibald Henville and Dagenham & Redbridge’s Ayo Obileye were sent for early baths following an 18-man scuffle.
Their Star Man
Barnsley will be well aware of the danger posed by Magpies front man Garry Thompson when they take on Ricardo Moniz’s Notts County on Tuesday. The winger-turned-striker has netted 11 times in 41 appearances so far this season; including one against the Reds back in October when his strike began the Magpies’ stunning fightback to clinch a 3-2 success at Oakwell.
The former Morecambe man failed to notch in his first seven games of the season but flew onto the scene in October with a hat-trick as the Magpies beat Crawley 5-3 at Meadow Lane.
Thompson made it four in two games after his strike against the Reds, while he also netted the Club’s winner at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry in mid-November. Further strikes against Rochdale, Peterborough and Fleetwood, amongst others, saw the 34-year-old become the Club’s top goal scorer in his first season with the Magpies and following a four-match goalless spell, the ex-Scunthorpe and Bradford forward headed a 79th minute equaliser against Yeovil on Saturday which condemned the Glovers to relegation but in turn, kept the Magpies’ survival hopes alive.
Mutual Man
Energetic midfielder Nathan Doyle is a player that both Barnsley and Notts County supporters will remember for his controlled and committed performances in the middle of the park. Doyle progressed through the youth ranks at hometown Club Derby County and made four starts for the Rams, but with his opportunities limited, Doyle spent time on loan at both Bradford City and Tuesday night’s hosts Notts County.
Doyle – who was capped at youth level for England – joined the Magpies in February 2006 until the end of the campaign and made his debut in a 2-1 defeat at Lincoln. The midfielder’s Meadow Lane bow ended in a 2-2 draw against Mansfield but he did secure his first win at the Club in his third game, as County beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 after Steve Scoffham’s second-half winner. That success would prove to be the only win during Doyle’s stay with the Club; drawing six and losing five during his 12 appearances in Nottingham.
Following another loan spell, this time at Bradford, Doyle made a permanent switch to Hull City in January 2007. Two-and-a-half years into his spell at the KC Stadium and the 28-year-old completed a loan switch to Barnsley. After making his Reds’ debut as a 59th minute substitute in a goalless draw against Swansea at Oakwell, Doyle went onto make 10 starts; helping the Club pick up five draws and five wins during his three months there. That spell would turn into a much longer move however, as he clinched a permanent transfer from Hull in January 2010.
The Derby-born defensive-midfielder made his second debut in a disappointing Oakwell defeat to Sheffield Wednesday but featured in impressive wins against Preston and Cardiff as the Reds finished the season in 18th place; with Doyle making 34 appearances.
He would add another 45 to that tally during his first full season with the Club; which also saw him bag his first two goals for the Reds in wins against Nottingham Forest and Coventry. Barnsley ended that campaign in 17th place but things would get worse for both the Reds and Doyle during the 2011-12 season, with a narrow escape from relegation and a limited number of appearances for Doyle which even saw him join Preston on loan. At the end of that season, the midfielder was released by the Reds and following two years at former Club Bradford, a move to Luton was completed in September.
Form Guide
Notts County’s last five at home: (LDLDD)
Notts County 0-1 Port Vale
Notts County 1-1 Bradford City
Notts County 1-2 Rochdale
Notts County 2-2 Scunthorpe United
Notts County 0-0 Coventry City
Barnsley’s last five away from home: (WWDDL)
Gillingham 0-1 Barnsley
Oldham Athletic 1-3 Barnsley
Leyton Orient 0-0 Barnsley
Bristol City 2-2 Barnsley
Colchester United 3-1 Barnsley
Going to the match?
Notts County plays at Meadow Lane, its address is as follows:
Notts County Football Club
Meadow Lane
Nottingham
NG2 3HJ
How to get there
By Road: Leave the M1 at Junction 26, and take the A610 towards Nottingham and then follow signs for Melton Mowbray. Turn left before the River Trent in to Meadow Lane.
By Train: The ground is 10 minutes' walk from Nottingham railway station. As you come out of the main station entrance, head Southeast on Carrington Street. Take the first left towards Queen's Road/A6019 and turn left at Queen's Road/A6019. Turn right at London Road/A60 and take the first left onto Cattle Market Road/A6011. Take the second right onto County Road/A6011 and turn right at Meadow Lane/A6011, where you will find the ground on the right.
By Tram: On every home matchday, supporters can get a return ticket on the city's tram network to Station Street for just £2. Simply show your match ticket or season card to the conductor on the day of the game to take advantage of this fantastic offer and there's also the option of free parking too.
Ticket Information
Tickets are priced as follows:
Adults: £24
Senior (Over 60s): £15
Young Adult (16-21): £15
Under 16's: £6
The official club coaches depart Oakwell at 5pm on matchday and is priced at £14 per seat.
Tickets will remain on sale until 12 noon on Tuesday 14th April, subject to availability.
