An in-depth look at Barnsley's trip to Huddersfield Town.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS: Barnsley: Slonina; de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; Cotter, Benson, Craig, Connell, O'Keeffe; Humphrys, Keillor-Dunn. Huddersfield: Chapman; Pearson, Lees, Spencer; Sorensen, Wiles, Hogg, Evans, Miller; Marshall, Koroma.
INJURY NEWS: Barnsley: Out: Matty Wolfe (knee), Max Watters. Doubt: Adam Phillips (toe). Huddersfield: Out: Radinio Balker (ankle), Rhys Healey (hamstring), Michal Helik (hamstring), Lee Nicholls (elbow), Danny Ward (calf). Doubts: Herbie Kane, Chris Maxwell, Josh Koroma.
KEY BATTLES
Darrell Clarke v Michael Duff
The current Reds head coach has met his predecessor in the Oakwell hotseat seven times in league games, losing six and drawing one. The only point he collected was at Oakwell in September 2022 when Port Vale drew 1-1, then Duff watched from the stands later that year as a much-changed team were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at Vale Park. Bolton’s Ian Evatt is the only manager Duff has come up against more times in his coaching career than Clarke.
They are similar in many ways – intense coaches who often favour a 3-5-2 with high-pressing and fairly direct football, while priding themselves on having a strong dressing room and making impactful changes during games. Clarke has perhaps shown more willingness to tinker with personnel and systems than Duff did at Barnsley. While this game, the tenth of the season between two new managers, is surely not an ‘El Sackico’ situation, it is a big opportunity for coaches who have not had the start they wanted to kick-start their campaign with a derby win over an expected promotion rival.
Luca Connell v Herbie Kane
Connell, Kane and Adam Phillips were Barnsley’s engine room for most of the previous two seasons and described by some as the best midfield in League One. After moving from South to West Yorkshire, Kane – pictured with Connell – has been in and out of the side, partly due to an injury early in the season, so may not feature. If he does, he is clearly a quality operator at this level, with his passing range and ability to break opposition lines, and would be highly-motivated against his former club.
Kane’s exit has allowed Connell to take up a more attacking role in the Reds’ midfield and, although he has had a few poor games, he is looking like a goal threat and creating regular chances for team-mates. He is fourth in the division for ‘key passes’ so far this season. Adam Phillips, Barnsley’s top-scorer with five, could miss another game with a toe problem, which may open the door for a very rare Josh Benson start after he impressed off the bench in midweek.
Huddersfield also have Antony Evans, who moved from Bristol Rovers this summer and has two goals, and former Rotherham star Ben Wiles, who has three, while either veteran Jonathan Hogg, young Wolves loanee Joe Hodge or David Kasumu could play the anchor midfield role.
Gaga Slonina v Josh Koroma
Americans have played differing roles for the Reds at Huddersfield over the years. Brek Shea famously put his middle finger up to the away end after the 5-0 drubbing in 2014 and never played again, while Daryl Dike’s overhead kick seven years later secured their most recent win there. This season, Donovan Pines has been in and out of the first 11, rarely completing 90 minutes recently.
Darrell Clarke’s favoured back three currently appears to be Mael de Gevigney, Marc Roberts and Josh Earl. US international Gaga Slonina is likely to start in goal, despite being singled out for criticism by his manager in midweek after being too slow on the ball in possession. His main role is to save shots and he has done that better this week after a few errors earlier in the season.
Koroma is Huddersfield’s top-scorer this season with four goals and, after being benched in midweek due to a minor injury, is expected to come back into the starting line-up. Northern Ireland international teenager Callum Marshall, on loan from West Ham, is likely to partner Koroma and is the only other Town striker to have scored in the league this season, with one goal.
There is also Freddie Ladapo who has a strong goal-scoring record in League One, with 67 goals, but has not netted in five meetings with Reds, missing some big chances in the past.
Huddersfield have Spanish striker Bojan Radulovic who is yet to start firing following a January move from Finnish football.
Stephen Humphrys v Matty Pearson
An injury for former Barnsley defender Michal Helik – who has been Huddersfield fans’ Player of the Year the last two seasons – has meant another ex-Red Pearson has come back into the team, and scored at Reading on Saturday.
Pearson, having made his name at Halifax Town in a back two with current Red Marc Roberts, spent the 2017/18 Championship season with Barnsley, playing 19 games before moving on to Luton Town then the Terriers.
Pearson, pictured right, generally plays on the right of the back three, with converted wing-back Brodie Spencer likely to be on the left. In the middle is expected to be Tom Lees, a 33-year-old playing his first season in League One after making 485 Championship appearances for Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield.
Humphrys seems set to return to the starting line-up, after netting off the bench in midweek.
A feisty derby game feels like the perfect contest for the ‘nuisance’ striker who, all in all, has been easily Barnsley’s best performing forward this season despite just starting one game so far.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Steven Chicken, ‘We Are Terriers’
Things started brilliantly under Michael Duff, with Huddersfield winning their first four games in all competitions, but they’ve had seven losses and just one win since then.
Stupid errors at the back and a lack of creativity up top have been the major issues, with Huddersfield particularly struggling against sides who have played on the counter-attack.
Barnsley fans won’t need telling about Duff’s fondness for 3-5-2, and he is yet to deviate from it with any of his starting line-ups – feeling the issues are more about execution than tactics.
Town fans will now demand a win on Saturday, which is no reflection on how they see Barnsley, and all to do with having lost four on the spin after expecting to be challenging for automatic promotion.
REFEREE
David Rock
The Hertfordshire official has been in charge of two Barnsley games in the past.
He oversaw the 7-0 demolition of Port Vale on the opening day of last season and the gritty 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers the previous campaign.
His three League One games this season have seen him award 17 yellow cards, one red, and give a penalty.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Terriers 2, Reds 1 – April 22, 2022
Barnsley’s dismal season finally ended in relegation when they lost this Friday night derby, a year on from reaching the Championship play-off semi-final.
The Reds’ team contained several players who have been regulars since in the Championship or Premier League such as Carlton Morris, Cauley Woodrow, Callum Brittain, Liam Kitching and Mads Andersen.
Barnsley’s midfield was Romal Palmer and Matty Wolfe – the only member of that squad still contracted to the club although he has not played for 18 months due to injury – while Aaron Leya Iseka and debutant Isaac Christie-Davies came off the bench.
Former Oakwell academy player Jordan Rhodes opened the scoring from a corner in the fourth minute then Harry Toffolo doubled the lead in first half stoppage time.
Barnsley were poor, as they had been all season, but Callum Styles pulled one back in the 97th minute.
Barnsley sacked Poya Asbaghi later in the weekend and Martin Devaney was caretaker for the last three games, which were all defeats. Huddersfield – who had current Reds fringe player Jon Russell in their starting line-up – would reach the play-off final but lose to Nottingham Forest. Barnsley had also lost earlier in the year in Huddersfield, 1-0 in the FA Cup.
Terriers 5, Reds 0 – March 1, 2014
Danny Wilson’s Barnsley, who were on their way down to League One, sank to the bottom of the Championship with this thrashing.
Keith Southern, Danny Ward, Reds hero Adam Hammill, Adam Clayton – with a penalty after a foul by Luke Steele – and Sean Scanell got the goals.
The more memorable scenes were after the final whistle when some Reds players argued with a seething away end. Stephen Dawson had to be restrained while Brek Shea’s loan ended after pictures emerged of him putting his middle finger up to supporters.
Terriers 1, Reds 3 – May 15, 2006
A famous night for Barnsley who reached the League One play-off final, which they would win, with this second leg success – having lost the first 1-0 at Oakwell. Paul Hayes won and scored a penalty then, Jon Worthington replied, Paul Reid headed home then Danny Nardiello got the winner.
Terriers 1, Reds 1 – October 6, 2000
Huddersfield looked like suffering a sixth successive defeat when future Barnsley defender Rob Kozluk scored an own goal, steering in a Brian O’Callaghan cross. Kozluk then crossed for Martin Smith to level on 79 minutes against Dave Bassett’s side.
Terriers 2, Reds 2 – November 14, 1987
Barnsley were 2-0 up on 34 minutes at Huddersfield’s old Leeds Road ground. John MacDonald scored an early goal then Stuart Gray capitalised on an error by goalkeeper Lee Martin. But a poor backpass by Barnsley’s Paul McGugan allowed Peter Ward to pull one back before the break then the equaliser in the 88th-minute came from Barnsley legend Ian Banks.
