BARNSLEY will look to continue their excellent away record when they visit third-bottom Cambridge United from 3pm.
The Us, under former Barnsley player Garry Monk, collected just one point from their first nine games of the season.
That point was from a 4-4 draw at home to Blackpool, having been 4-1 down, but it was followed by six straight losses in which they scored just twice to leave them last.
But they beat Wigan, Stevenage and Burton without conceding a goal, and had won five in a row with five clean sheets in all competitions going into Saturday’s derby at Peterborough United which they lost 6-1.
They are 22nd, with ten points from 13 games, so are four points off safety.
They have won their last three at home in all competitions without conceding.
Ten of their first team squad are currently out injured or injury doubts ahead of the game while two of their regular starters, goalkeeper Vicente Reyes and winger Sullay Kaikai, are on international duty with Chile and Sierra Leone respectively.
Barnsley head coach Darrell Clarke said: “They struggled with injuries in the early part of the season but they have players coming back.
“They have won five out of six so they have a bit of rhythm.
“They had a hiccup in the derby and I expect nothing but a difficult game.
“They are well-organised and well-drilled.
“They have beaten some good teams, and they stick to the gameplan.”
The Reds have won five of their first seven away games this season, the second best record in the division.
They have not conceded a goal in the first half of any of their seven league games on the road this season.
Clarke said: “We reset.
“It’s nice to have good form. It builds momentum and confidence. But I focus on the next game.
“It’s immaterial that we’ve won five out of seven.
“I just focus on winning the next one. We want and need more away wins.
“We’re pleased with the record but can’t sit on our laurels.
“Winning away in professional football is difficult whatever level you are at.
“The boys have done well to get all those wins but it’s history now.”
The match may have been called off had Cambridge had one more international call-up or Barnsley two more.
Clarke is just happy to be playing.
He told the Chronicle: “I want to manage games.
“We all know the rules on the international situation.
“If you have three or more, you can call it off.
“I know there are a few bits of noise out there, people saying all games should be off.
“But every club knew the rules before the fixtures came out so we just get on with it.”
Paul Digby, who came through the Oakwell academy, is out until the New Year with a calf problem.
Digby’s former Reds team-mate Korey Smith could start in Cambridge’s midfield. Another former Barnsley midfielder, Gary Gardner, is another one of the Cambridge players struggling with injury.
Monk played 21 games for the Reds in the 2003/04 season. He was assisted last season by his former Barnsley team-mate Kevin Betsy who then moved on to Queens Park Rangers.
Barnsley top-scorer Adam Phillips made his professional debut for Cambridge, during a four-game loan from Norwich City in early 2018.
The clubs have met 25 times with Barnsley winning 12 and losing six.
The Reds had won five in a row but were stunned 2-0 at home to relegation-battling Cambridge on Good Friday this year, with Mael de Gevigney’s pass going past goalkeeper Liam Roberts to open the scoring.
Barnsley have won their last three games at Cambridge, including in the last two seasons by wide scorelines of 3-0 then 4-0.
