Last season was a real up and down season for Barnsley. The Reds started off in horrific form, despite drawing 2-2 at near neighbours Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day, The Reds then proceeded to lose their next five matches- the fourth defeat at home to Reading, saw manager Simon Davey lose his job after two and a half years in charge and he was replaced by Rotherham United manager Mark Robins.
The impact of the former Manchester United striker was almost instant. Despite losing his first match in charge- at Watford, The Reds would lose just one of the next seven matches, albeit a heavy defeat, 5-2 at QPR, which lifted the club off the bottom of the Championship.
The best spell of the season arrived in the final two months of 2009, as The Reds went unbeaten for the final eight matches of the year, and in an incredible turn of events, Robins had led the club from rock bottom in September, to 15th in December.
That though proved the highlight of the campaign. Although Barnsley would hit the dizzy heights of ninth after a 1-0 win over Watford in February, 2010 proved to be a poor year. Barnsley lost three of their first four games of the year and after that Hornets victory, the real malaise set in. Barnsley would win just two of the final 18 games of the season and suffered a thumping 6-1 defeat at Newcastle in March. It meant they would tumble from ninth in February to end the season a rather disappointing 18th.
Top scorer Daniel Bogdanovic (14 goals) has left the club after failing to sign a new contract; he has joined Sheffield United and unless the Reds can find a new goal scorer I fear they will struggle without the Maltese international.
When Do We Meet?
Bramall Lane: 30 April 2011
Oakwell: 11 December 2010
Previous Positions:
2007-08: 18th
2008-09: 20th
2009-10: 18th
Odds
Promotion: 22/1
Relegation: 13/8
Blades-Mad Predicted Finish: 21st