Darrell Clarke has challenged his Barnsley side to be more positive when they host one of League One’s form sides, Wycombe Wanderers, from 7.45pm on Tuesday.
This will be a second evening home league game in four days for Barnsley, following Saturday’s 1-1 draw home to Stockport County, who levelled in injury-time.
The Reds are sixth with 14 points, a place and a point clear of Wycombe who have played a game fewer.
The Chairboys lost their first two league games of the season – to current top two Wrexham and Birmingham – but then beat Rotherham 2-0, drew 2-2 at Blackpool and won 2-1 over all three of Northampton, Cambridge and Bristol Rovers in their last three games, netting a 96th-minute winner on Saturday. They are unbeaten in five, with four wins.
Head coach Darrell Clarke said: “People get too bogged down by names and history in this league. Wycombe have a very competitive squad. We are very respectful of them. They have been a strong unit over the years and it’s a very very well-run club.
“They have good performances and results recently. But I believe, if we get our performance right, we’re more than a match for anyone.”
Wycombe were known for being very direct and physical under previous boss Gareth Ainsworth, who took them to the Championship, but they are less extreme under his replacement Matt Bloomfield. Clarke said: “They mix it up. Gareth did an amazing job there, getting them to where they did. They have always been difficult to play against and a successful team.”
Clarke was disappointed with his team’s performance on Saturday and wants to give the fans something better in midweek.
He said: “I want to see a reaction from my players after Saturday and a positive, forward-thinking performance.
“The fans have been superb. We have to get our fans going. We started the game really well other night. I get the frustration because we want to be in division higher. You will always get nights where the reaction is frustration. I understand. It’s the nature of the beast. Players and us as staff need to give the fans a performance.”
Wycombe lost 1-0 at Oakwell last November due to Sam Cosgrove’s injury-time goal which saw him bump into goalkeeper Max Stryjek who dropped the ball for the striker to tap into the empty net.
The Reds then won 4-2 at Adams Park in March, having been behind twice, thanks to goals by Cosgrove, Donovan Pines, Corey O’Keeffe and Conor Grant.
Barnsley have won seven of their 12 meetings with the Chairboys, including the last three, and only lost twice.
Former Barnsley man Josh Scowen remains a regular in Wycombe’s midfield.
