Barnsley visit Huddersfield

The Reds are coming into the game off the back of an impressive victory on Tuesday at home to Peterborough in which they came from behind to win. 

Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane is set to take charge of his 50th game, with his current managerial record being 17 wins, 12 draws and 20 losses in all competitions. 

He has turned the Reds into an entertaining outfit, with lots of goals but a notable lack of clean sheets during his tenure. 

The game at the Accu Stadium could be key for Barnsley’s season, as they sit 13th in League One, eight points clear of the relegation zone bit also eight off sixth-placed Huddersfield who have played four more games. 

An away win would cut the gap to five points and spur thoughts of a potential late play-off push within the Oakwell fanbase; however, the Reds haven’t won in seven league away matches since beating another Yorkshire rival Doncaster Rovers 2-1 in November. 

Hourihane said the next ten games would decide what the situation Barnsley find themselves in terms of promotion push, mid-table or relegation scrap. 

Conor Hourihane said: “It’s about us getting better constantly. 

“The league table is of no interest to me right now. 

“People can talk about it and discuss where we are- mid-table or whatever. Right now it’s an internal thing to get better individually and collectively. 

“We’ve got Huddersfield on Saturday, which is going to be a Yorkshire derby and a really exciting game. 

“And then we’ve got a free week as well to work on things which is unusual and we need to make the most of it. 

“Let’s just see what the next couple of weeks bring. We’ve got a big cluster of games coming up after that.” 

It will be a return to Huddersfield for loanee goalkeeper Owen Goodman, who spent the first half of the season there before returning to Crystal Palace and joining Barnsley until the end of the season. 

The Reds also have former Huddersfield loanee Tawanda Chirewa who is still out with an ankle injury. 

Barnsley beat Huddersfield back in August, with Owen Goodman sent off after 36 minutes for clattering David McGoldrick. Davis Keillor-Dunn scored a brace and Luca Connell also netted from distance before the visitors pulled one back late on. 

The Reds have lost their last four games at Huddersfield, including two 2-0 defeats last season in the league and EFL Trophy under Darrell Clarke.  

The last time they won at Huddersfield in the league was the behind-closed-doors season in 2021 thanks to Daryl Dike goal. 

The two clubs have met 83 times, with Barnsley winning 30 and losing 37.