Barnsley are back at Oakwell this weekend as high-flying Swansea City visit in Sky Bet Championship action - here's the preview.
It's back down to league action for the Reds on Saturday following the October international break - promotion hopefuls Swansea City are in town.
This will be the first match since the departure of Daniel Stendel with caretaker boss Adam Murray making his first appearance in the home dugout.
Former Mansfield Town manager Murray spoke with the press during midweek along with midfielder Alex Mowatt as they looked ahead to the Swansea fixture.
Subscribers can watch their full pre-match press conference videos over on iFollow Barnsley or by clicking on the videos linked below.
The search for a new Head Coach has begun after Stendel's departure. Without a win since the opening day victory over Fulham, the Reds have fallen to 23rd in the Championship table, sat on just six points and two more away from safety after 11 games.
Saturday's visitors from South Wales are at the other end of the table, currently fourth and just a point off the leaders, West Brom going into this match.
The Swans are unbeaten on their travels this season but they did fall to a shock 2-1 defeat last time out against bottom club Stoke City on home soil.
Playing what has been described as a 'possession based' game with the mercurial Kosovo international midfielder Bersant Celina pulling the strings, it's been a superb start to club management for former Liverpool academy chief Steve Cooper who took over the Swans in the summer following Graham Potter's defection to Brighton in the Premier League.
As part of the England youth setup at U17 level, Cooper led the Young Lions to the final of the 2017 European Championship, where they lost to Spain on penalties, but they gained revenge later in the year by coming from 2-0 down to beat the same opponents 5-2 in the World Cup final in India. They had never previously been further than the quarter finals of the global competition.
Cooper - when speaking to Swansea City's official website - called for calm in his players and controlling possession ahead of their 250-mile trip to Barnsley.
He said: “At times I think we need to show a bit more calmness and play a few more passes to control the game. I feel if we do that, we look a good team and - if we get it right - I would back us against anybody.
“That will be our mentality for this game and the next game, and the one after that. The more times we get it right, the more chance we have of winning.”
One of the youngest sides in the division, Swansea also have a few older heads to lean on including Dutch centre back Mike Van Der Hoorn and the experienced forward Andre Ayew. But it's been the likes of Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon and Matt Grimes who've really come to prominence the last year or so and that young core has given Swans fans the hope that this season could be the one that sees their club return to the top flight.
This weekend sees the Reds meet the Swans for the first time at this level since January of 2011 when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw here at Oakwell as a late Scott Sinclair penalty had cancelled out Bobby Hassell’s early strike for Mark Robins’ men.
Ignoring our penalty shootout success in Cardiff back in the 2005/06 League One playoff campaign, you have to go back to 1983 for our last league triumph against the Swans, and this is historically a tough fixture for Barnsley with Swansea leading the head-to-head record with 35 wins to the Reds' 24.
Tickets are still on sale for this Category B fixture and you can buy yours online by clicking the linked image below.
If you can't make it to Oakwell on Saturday for this 3pm kick-off for whatever reason, iFollow Barnsley is the place to be where LIVE and uninterrupted commentary will be on air to UK subscribers with our own Matt Bailey on the mic.
Due to this match being televised overseas, there will be no live stream available.
iFollow Barnsley gives you the inside track on the Reds. With a range of benefits including live match video streams, live audio commentary and exclusive club content, sign up today to get closer to the action.
Barnsley U18s welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Oakwell Training Ground on Saturday morning as they look to make it four consecutive wins.
The Professional Development league clash takes place ahead of our first team’s Sky Bet Championship game with Swansea City, so you can make a day of it at Oakwell by also enjoying a variety of entertainment at our Fan Zone in between the two fixtures.
