BARNSLEY, with one good week, went from what seemed like a borderline crisis into a fairly strong position going into a vital month in November.
October was a rollercoaster month. It started with an unconvincing home draw with Wycombe, in which they needed a late leveller, then two dismal defeats at Huddersfield Town in the league and EFL Trophy as they barely mustered a shot or attack. Darrell Clarke was openly critical of his players and admitted he was struggling to find answers while rattling through formations.
But, after a fruitful two weeks on the training pitch, they collected seven points out of nine last week with far better performances and look to be gathering momentum. They have found more consistency in terms of selection and performance. Players are stepping up such as summer signings Georgie Gent and Davis Keillor-Dunn or those who had barely played previously like Max Watters and Jon Russell.
Their total of 22 points from 13 games is one fewer than at this stage last season under Neill Collins but one more than a year earlier under Michael Duff. So they are on course, in terms of points at least, to compete for the top six once again. In eighth place, they are poised to launch an attack on the summit if they build on recent results.
There are still issues, despite a comprehensive win at a very bad Shrewsbury side on Saturday.They have otherwise struggled to put 90-minute performances together, conceding the most late goals in the country, while their home form is the major problem – with just one win at Oakwell in the league in 12 games since February. The only clean sheet they have kept at home in the league in 2024 was a goalless draw with Clarke’s Cheltenham in March.
In November, they have three league games at home to improve that wretched record as well as an opportunity to record a sixth away win from eight games at Cambridge if it is not called off in the international break. Their next two league opponents, Rotherham and Cambridge, are underperforming their ‘expected goals’ tally by the most in the division – so should, in theory, be due an upturn in form soon. There is also the FA Cup in which, by the end of the month, they could have joined Premier League clubs in the third round.
Barnsley have had a good week but now need to follow it up with several more.
Here are the November fixtures:
PORT VALE, away, tomorrow
This is a tough FA Cup tie, away at the League Two leaders – very likely more difficult than their last league game at League One strugglers Shrewbury.
It is the second cup game in five days against one of the current top sides in League Two, managed by a former Red, after the midweek loss at home to Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Trophy.
But this match will be taken far more seriously with the FA Cup a more prestigious and lucrative competition and one which Barnsley will look to salvage some pride in after being thrown out last year for fielding an ineligible player having been taken to a replay by seventh-tier Horsham.
Clarke will return to the club who sacked him in April of last year after he took them to promotion from League Two the previous season.
It will be Barnsley’s first meeting with Darren Moore since his Sheffield Wednesday side beat them in the League One play-off final last year.
His side are on excellent form so it will be a difficult test for the Reds who are expected to pick a strong side.
ROTHERHAM UTD, home, Nov 8
This Friday night fixture is a derby in terms of geography, and many fans will know each other with the two clubs separated by fewer than ten miles as the crow flies.
But they have only been in the same division in four of the previous 40 seasons so it not exactly a clash filled with memories and emotions.
It is also a very one-sided fixture as the Millers have not beaten Barnsley in 11 meetings since 1982 while they have not won at Oakwell in 14 attempts since 1970.
They will be keen to end that terrible record and also to kick-start a season which, so far, has not quite lived up to expectations.
After making a series of early signings having been relegated, Steve Evans’ side have won just four of 14 games and are five points behind the Reds in 14th.
Barnsley will be desperate to record their second home league win since February, having drawn the last three.
This feels like a major chance to continue their momentum from the last week and end the poor home form.
CAMBRIDGE UTD, away, Nov 16
This is Barnsley’s only away league game scheduled for November, but it could still be called off due to international call-ups.
Cambridge had a game postponed in September due to three call-ups while Barnsley could hit that threshold if someone like Gaga Slonina or Jon Russell joins Vimal Yoganathan and Fabio Jalo in being selected.
Garry Monk’s Cambridge made a dreadful start to the season, taking just a point from their first nine games.
But they beat Wigan, Stevenage and Burton to move into the highest of the four relegation places.
The Reds will look to continue their excellent away form with a sixth win in eight on the road.
Their away games in December are harder in theory as they go to high-flying Wrexham – where they have never won – make the long trip to Exeter then visit Bolton and Peterborough in the days between Christmas and New Year.
WIGAN ATHLETIC, home, Nov 23
The Latics have never lost a league game at Oakwell.
After a 3-2 defeat as a non-league side in the FA Cup in 1954, they drew their next trip then won four in a row before three successive draws.
Despite that, the Reds are unbeaten in five meetings home or away with the Latics, having won on penalties there in August in the EFL Cup.
Wigan were tipped by many as dark horses for promotion this season after their financial position was stabilised but they are currently 19th. They have only won one of their last eight league games.
Toby Sibbick, part of the Barnsley side which stayed in the Championship at Wigan’s expense in 2020, joined from Hearts in the summer but has started just once in the league.
READING, home, November 30
This game will be brought forward four days until Tuesday, November 26 if either side reaches the second round of the FA Cup.
Despite being in financial turmoil and having only signed one loan player in the summer window due to a transfer embargo, Reading are only one place behind the Reds on goal difference, in ninth, having won five of their last seven games.
Reading are overperforming their xG significantly which, statisticians would say, will lead to a slide down the table at some point.
They have the best home record in the league but have won just once away.
This could be a meeting of the Craig brothers with Barnsley’s loanee Matty potentially coming up against his twin Michael for the first time.
The Royals have not lost in 11 meetings at Oakwell since 1998, winning five and drawing six including the last five.
In December, Barnsley are due to host title favourites Birmingham then Leyton Orient.