It's another road trip for the Reds this weekend as our Sky Bet Championship campaign continues in Reading.
Back to league action for Barnsley on Saturday following the midweek victory at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup.
That 2-0 win at the Riverside was the perfect pick-me-up after last weekend's disappointing Championship-opener against Luton.
Goals in the first half from Patrick Schmidt and Jordan Williams were enough on Teesside as Reds boss, Gerhard Struber rang the changes in terms of selection. A number will have undoubtedly pushed their claims for a starting position this weekend.
With Premier League giants Chelsea awaiting in the third round next Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, minds need to be focused first up on this clash with the Royals, in the bread-and-butter of the Sky Bet Championship.
Struber has problems in the left-back position with both Ben Williams (long-term knee injury) and Clarke Oduor unavailable at the moment. Proving he can play - and play well - in just about any role, Jordan Williams operated down the left in midweek for the first 45 until Callum Styles' appearance at the break. You'd expect one of those two men to fill in once more on Saturday.
Polish centre back Michal Helik made an impressive start to life as a Red in Middlesbrough; a solid debut and offering the Reds another physical outlet. And Dominik Frieser got his first 90 minutes since arriving in the summer, putting in a tireless shift up front.
Ahead of the trip to the Madejski Stadium, both the Head Coach and his midfielder Luke Thomas spoke with the assembled press to help preview the game.
Subscribers to iFollow Barnsley can enjoy both pre-match press conference interviews by clicking on the linked videos above.
Our hosts on Saturday bowed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, losing 1-0 on home soil against Luton, but they did kick-off their Sky Bet Championship season with an impressive 2-0 win away at Derby County.
Under new management at the Madejski, with Serbian coach Veljko Paunović appointed just prior to the 20/21 campaign getting underway, the Royals will be hoping for a much better time of things after a hugely disappointing season last time out.
In terms of their squad, they've added midfield powerhouse Ovie Ejaria on a permanent basis after his outstanding loan spell during the summer and kept hold of stalwarts such as ex-Red Andy Yiadom, midfield playmaker John Swift and talented 'keeper Rafael.
The Reds have failed to score at the Madejski in their last three visits and haven't won there since March 2014. Not the happiest of hunting grounds, and incidentally, this was the last away trip pre-COVID-19 where Barnsley were beaten 2-0 in a dismal showing.
You can watch the Reds behind-closed-doors in this one by purchasing a Match Pass via iFollow Barnsley.
Follow the link below and look forward to a four-camera, HD broadcast from Berkshire, with Matt Bailey on commentary duty, joined by Barnsley legend Darren Barnard as expert summariser.
