Match Preview: Barnsley vs. Sheffield United (Part Two)

barnsley vs. sheffield united

Almost a fortnight ago the S71 club were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Manchester United with goals from Danny Welbeck (6) and a more recognisable Michael Owen (59) who giving the Red Devils a two-nil win with Gary Neville seeing a straight card.

Their mini-cup run in the competition comes nothing more than ironic after a stuttering start to a seasons campaign which saw Barnsley go seven games until they claimed their first Championship scalp; that came on 15th September in a 3-2 win at Derby County.

However between then they had seen a dramatic change in the managerial hierarchy with Simon Davey being handed his marching orders after a string of poor results and even greater terrible displays. They kick started the campaign with a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday after being 2-0 down at half-time and in time honoured tradition hosted and lost to Coventry City (0-2) in their first home game of the season.

They had success in the League Cup, disposing of both Lincoln City (1-0) and Reading (2-1) away from home before Davey was given the push and installed by Rotherham United boss Mark Robins who subsequently lost his first game in charge (at Watford (0-1)) before that win at Pride Park.

A dramatic win over Premier League Burnley (3-2) in the League Cup Third Round gave the home faithful hope as wins against West Bromwich Albion (3-1), Ipswich Town (2-1) and Doncaster Rovers (1-0) lifted them out of the bottom three but the 5-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers will live long in the memory.

The Tykes have had slightly more time to prepare for this South

daniel bogdanovic in action against johnny evans (manchester united). Image Copyright to SportBox.TV

Yorkshire Derby at Oakwell having had two days more rest than their counterparts. They travelled to London Road (not the one in S2) to face Peterborough United where the Reds came home with three vital points.

However they had to come from behind when George Boyd (24 minutes) gave Posh the lead via the penalty spot after a clumsy Darren Moore pulled down Gaby Zakuani in the box. Two minutes later the honours where even when Jon Macken (26) finished off a great move from Anderson before Maltese international striker Daniel Bogdanovic (39) secured the points, 2-1.

The Tykes are also expected to be without their club captain; Stephen Foster was booked in their win at London Road last weekend, it was the skippers 5th booking of the season and will now sit this one out - he will return for their next fixture on 21 November at home to Cardiff City.

Fellow defender Bobby Hassell also could be out of contention via an Achilles injury, he is however ready to return (though short of match fitness) to first team action but may be a game too soon for the former Mansfield Town full-nack.

Barnsley boss Mark Robins could call upon the services of three former Sheffield United players to face their former club; Robert Kozluk, Julian Gray and Andy Gray.

Kozluk was signed by then manager Steve Bruce in March 1999, involving a swap deal which allowed Vassilis Borboiks to leave the lane and Kozluk and Jonathan Hunt coming the other way from Derby County.

He made his debut in a 3-2 away win at Tranmere Rovers and had to wait until March 2003 to score his first professional goal in a 4-1 win at Grimsby Town. The defender was released in July 2007 and immediately joined Barnsley on a free transfer. Throughout his time at Bramall Lane he made 215 (+21) appearances and scored just twice.

Julian Gray was part of the Blades team which travelled to Malta this summer; he had joined as a trialist after being released by Fulham - in the end it was decided that he wouldn't be handed a contract by United as the Blades signed Glen Little instead. He made his Reds debut in a 0-0 draw with Swansea City on 18th September.

Andy Gray scored on his Blades debut in a 2-1 defeat at Reading after signing in February 2004 from Bradford City. He went onto make 63 (+2) for the Bramall Lane club and scored 28 goals before joining Sunderland in August 2005 in a seven figure sum.

Possible Tykes Line-Up: Luke Steele, Carl Dickinson, Darren Moore, Ryan Shotton, Julian Gray, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Hugo Roberto Colace, Franca Anderson Silva (c), Adam Hammill, Daniel Bogdanovic, Jonathan Macken..

Blades-Mad Prediction: Barnsley 1-1 Sheffield United

:: Statistics ::

For Head to Head statistics please click here.

Last 10 Games... Home & Away

* Statistics correct up to and including 01/08/2009

:: Match Officials ::

Referee: P. Dowd
Assistants: P. Thompson & J. Simpson
Fourth Official: A. Marriner