Before the November international break, the Reds are back on home soil as we welcome Stoke City to Oakwell in our latest Sky Bet Championship outing - here's the preview!
It's back down to action for the Reds this weekend and in what is probably the biggest game of the season so far, as Stoke City visit Oakwell for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.
The Reds had to fight back from two goals down last time out in last Friday evening's televised Sky Bet Championship clash with Bristol City.
Despite dominating the game, Barnsley shot themselves in the foot once again, conceding a pair of soft set-piece goals and had it all to do with 20 minutes of the game remaining.
But an Aapo Halme header - his second of the season - was followed up by a last-gasp Cauley Woodrow strike to earn caretaker boss Adam Murray a deserved point and move the Reds off the foot of the table.
Their opponents this weekend are the one side below them. The Potters - despite boasting one of the largest budgets in the division - sit 24th and like the Reds are without a manager or head coach at present, having dismissed Nathan Jones last week.
Despite the rumours about the incoming Michael O'Neill, in the hotseat for now is ex-Reds defender Rory Delap, who oversaw the Potters' 2-0 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion on Monday evening, an 11th league loss of the season.
After their decade-long stay in the Premier League came to an end last year, Stoke then struggled to adapt to life in the second tier and limped to a 16th placed finish last season.
But with some very expensive options at their disposal, plenty of experienced Premier League players, one would imagine that a decent new manager might well have them finally moving in a more upward trajectory.
One of the most experienced is defender Stephen Ward. The Irish international recently told the official Stoke City website that the Potters' squad need to buck up their ideas.
“We know we are in a fight," Ward admitted. "But we all need to stick together and work harder than we are because it’s been a really tough start to the season.
“It’s been hard and we are where we are for a reason, we’ve not picked up enough points and our performances haven’t been good enough.
“We need to have a look at ourselves and do whatever it is that we need to do to get a result, whether that be by digging one out or just being a bit more streetwise."
Ahead of the so-called 'six-pointer', Murray and forward Conor Chaplin met with the assembled press during the week to discuss the Potters clash and subscribers to iFollow Barnsley can watch both of their pre-match press conference videos by clicking on the linked videos below.
It's been a dozen years since the two clubs last met. A 3-3 Boxing Day thriller that saw referee Trevor Kettle playing pantomine villain back in 2007. But it's a fixture that Barnsley have the edge in, certainly in terms of the head-to-head record with 22 wins to the Potters' 20. There have also been 16 draws.
You've to go all the way back to 1986 for the last Reds defeat in this fixture at Oakwell.
Saturday also sees us pay our respects to our armed forces on Remembrance Weekend and prior to kick-off at 3pm a number of events are scheduled to take place, with John Hopkinson back once again to perform The Last Post in his usual inimitable style and special guests from the armed services here to lead out the two teams and lay wreaths on behalf of the club.
Tickets remain on sale for this match and are the cheapest on offer. A Category C fixture, Adults can get a seat for just £23.
Please note that there is a £2 increase for any supporter wishing to pay on the day.
If you can't make it to Oakwell for this important clash, UK subscribers to iFollow Barnsley can enjoy live and uniterrupted commentary from just before 3pm whilst our overseas supporters can look forward to commentary and four-camera, HD footage, streamed live ahead of kick-off.
We have plenty going on at Oakwell throughout Saturday, with Toby's Kids Club, the Reds FanZone, The Family Zone - all up and running as ever with lots going on to keep the young and older fans entertained before the big game kicks off!
Check out the various articles surrounding this fixture, contained within this preview.
Enjoy the game, and COME ON YOU REDS!
