The Reds are back in league action this weekend as they head for Blackburn looking for a first away win of the season - it's time for the preview!
It's back down to business as the Sky Bet Championship season reconvenes following November's international break and it's been a busy week leading up to this return to action for Barnsley with the appointment of a new Head Coach.
On Wednesday 20th November 2019, the Reds unveiled Gerhard Struber as the man to lead the first team with two thirds of the 2019/20 campaign still remaining.
The 42-year-old Austrian joined on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Austrian Bundesliga outfit Wolfsberger AC where he'd enjoyed brief but much-heralded success this year, leading the unfancied side to third position in the league and notable performances in the Europa League.
Bringing along with him a pair of coaching additions in the shape of Max Senft who worked alongside him in the Austrian Alps and former Arsenal and QPR defender Matt Rose, Struber will be hoping he can kick off his reign as Reds boss with a positive result at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
It has been two weeks since Barnsley lost 4-2 on home soil against Stoke City in a basement battle, so the squad will be refreshed and ready for the Rovers trip and there are no real injuries to contend with for the first time this season.
The Reds have taken just two points from a possible 21 on the road during the campaign to date and Struber has made it clear already that work must be done in terms of the players' defensive contributions.
The former Red Bull Salzburg youth coach met the local and national media for the first time during the midweek and you can watch his full press conference video by logging in to iFollow Barnsley or clicking on the linked video below.
Presently sat 18th in the Sky Bet Championship table, Saturday's hosts, Blackburn have won only one of their last eight fixtures (2-1 against Sheffield Wednesday) and last time out fell 2-1 themselves away at promotion-chasing Leeds United.
Led by the experienced Tony Mowbray, one of the longest-serving managers in the division, Rovers came into this campaign aiming for a playoff push at least, but it's not panned out like that so far.
They are just five points above the relegation zone but do have double the amount of points accrued than Barnsley at this stage.
With plenty of seasoned campaigners on the Ewood Park outfit's books, including former England international Stewart Downing, veteran forward Danny Graham and the combative midfield force that is Bradley Johnson, it's been a surprise to see Blackburn struggle in the first third of the campaign.
Also in the ranks for Mowbray's men is ex-Reds loanee Adam Armstrong. He was a part of the Barnsley squad who last visited Ewood Park in April of 2017 when goals from Marc Roberts and Marley Watkins saw the Reds to a 2-0 away win.
It isn't however a happy hunting ground historically for the men from South Yorkshire. In fact, as a fixture, the Reds' fortunes are rarely rich against Rovers.
There have been 63 meetings of the two clubs since the first ever fixture in 1913 when Rovers knocked out the defending champions in the FA Cup.
Barnsley hold just 13 victories with Blackburn this weekend looking for win number 31.
Tickets for Saturday's latest clash go off sale on Friday afternoon at 2pm with the Reds set to be backed by around 1,200 supporters in Struber's opening match as Barnsley FC's new Head Coach.
There will be pay-on-the-day available, but please note a £3 increase in ticket prices.
For those not attending the 3pm kick-off, we will have live and uninterrupted commentary via iFollow Barnsley with our very own Matt Bailey on the mic. Our overseas subscribers will be able to take advantage of a match pass and watch the game courtesy of our international live stream facility.
You can - as ever - stay right up to date with all the action across our social media channels, as it happens!
