Barnsley must win against visitors Cambridge United on Saturday at Oakwell in League One if they are to keep their slim promotion hopes alive.
The hosts were beaten 2-1 by Mansfield Town on March 15 and are currently in 10th place with 52 points, while their opponents are second last in 23rd place with 29 points following their 1-0 defeat against Peterborough United last Saturday.
Match preview
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Though Barnsley only conceded the winner in the 90th minute against Mansfield, they can have no complaints with the scoreline given they created just one big chance compared to the winners’ total of four.
The Colliers have only scored once in their past three and have in fact failed to find the back of the net in five of their last 11.
Interim manager Conor Hourihane has only been in charge for one game following the sacking of Darrell Clarke on March 12, and he finds his side nine points behind sixth-placed Huddersfield Town, who occupy the final promotion playoff spot.
Hourihane’s team have lost three consecutive matches, and though they won their prior three, they have been beaten in eight and held to a stalemate in one of their past 12.
Barnsley have also only triumphed in one of their five most recent home outings – losing on three occasions – and have been defeated in eight of their past 14 at Oakwell while only winning four in that time.
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Opponents Cambridge somehow failed to score against Peterborough despite creating three big chances, nearly 1.5 xG and forcing goalkeeper Jed Steer into making four saves.
Goalscoring has been a consistent issue throughout their 2024-25 campaign – they have failed to score in three of their last four – and their return of 35 goals in the third tier is the third worst record in the division.
Head coach Neil Harris‘s side drew 1-1 with Barnsley in League One on November 16, but they did lose three of their previous four clashes against Saturday’s hosts.
Cambridge have been beaten in each of their four most recent fixtures and have lost 16, drawn seven and won just four of their last 27.
The visitors’ record on the road is poor, with the club failing to achieve victory in 13 of their past 14 away from home, succumbing to defeat nine times.
Team News
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Barnsley started goalkeeper Jackson Smith against Mansfield Town but given he was taken off after just 14 minutes due to injury, substitute Kieran Flavell will likely be trusted between the posts on Saturday.
Centre-backs Mael de Gevigney, Marc Roberts and Conor McCarthy may be stationed in front of Flavell, while Jon Russell and Luca Connell may appear in a double pivot.
In the forward line, striker Max Watters could be supported by attackers Adam Phillips and Davis Keillor-Dunn.
Meanwhile, Cambridge may start centre-backs Michael Morrison and Kelland Watts behind midfielders Jordan Cousins and Paul Digby.
Strikers Dominic Ballard and Ryan Loft could be supported by wide players James Brophy and Josh Stokes.
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Flavell; Gevigney, Roberts, McCarthy; Benson, Russell, Connell, O’Keeffe; Phillips, Keillor-Dunn; Watters
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Malone; Brophy, Cousins, Digby, Stokes; Ballard, Loft
We say: Barnsley 1-1 Cambridge United
Neither side come into the clash in strong form and their match on Saturday is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Given Barnsley and Cambridge have struggled at home and on the road respectively, perhaps fans can expect the clubs to play out a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
