BIG-SPENDING Birmingham City are the ‘team to beat’ in League One according to Darrell Clarke as his Barnsley side prepares to host them tomorrow.

The Blues – who were relegated last season – made headlines throughout the summer transfer window for unprecedented spending at League One level.

They signed 17 new players for a combined total of roughly £30million including a league record £10million for Fulham striker Jay Stansfield.

They also appointed Chris Davies as head coach, who had been Brendan Rodgers’ assistant at Celtic and Leicester City – where he worked with Reds sporting director Mladen Sormaz – then a coach at Tottenham Hotspur last season under Ange Postecoglou.

After drawing at home to Reading on the opening day, they won seven in a row. But they had a more patchy run including losses at Charlton and bottom club Shrewsbury. They have won their last two including a 2--0 success at home to fellow top five club Stockport County on Wednesday.

That left them third in the table, nine points ahead of the eighth-placed Reds who have played two extra games.

The Blues have had by far the most possession of any side in the division and the highest pass completion rate.

Clarke told the Chronicle: “We totally understand what Birmingham are like.

“They have got some quality players.

“We feel like we’re in a situation at the minute, although results won’t tell you that, where performances have been really good. We’re just missing a few pieces of the jigsaw.

“It’s a hell of a challenge. I can’t wait for it.”

He added: “No one has a God given right to get out of the division.

“They have invested massively. We all know they are the team to beat.”

Barnsley have won just two of their nine home league games this season, the 16th best record in the division.

Clarke said: “Our fans have been magnificent. I get there is frustration.

“The lads are frustrated but we won’t cry about it, that isn’t me. We will try to put on a winning performance. The atmosphere will be very, very good.”

This will be Barnsley’s fifth game in a fortnight, with Clarke keeping almost the same 11 throughout.

“They are pro footballers. I haven’t seen fitness as a problem.

“If anything, the more games we’re playing, the fitter we’re getting. That’s what I am saying to the boys.

“There is always fatigue in the second half but we have five game-changers to come on. We won’t use that as an excuse.

“We will keep working hard and in that final third, with the final ball, run and finish.

“We need to get better in those areas and keep the group nice and positive.”

The Reds have three former Birmingham players. Defender Marc Roberts returned to Barnsley this season after seven years with the Blues.

Striker Sam Cosgrove had a tough two and a half year spell at Birmingham.

He signed in January 2021 and did not score in 17 appearances – with two starts – while being loaned out to Shrewsbury, Wimbledon and Plymouth before the Reds signed him permanently last year.

Corey O’Keeffe came through the youth system at hometown club Birmingham from the age of ten and made one first team appearance before leaving in 2020.

This will be the 88th meeting of the clubs, with Barnsley winning 26 and losing 40.

City have a strong record at Oakwell, with their last 27 visits since the 1940s bringing them 15 wins and only five defeats.

One of those losses was in 2021 when Daryl Dike scored a stunning strike for the only goal, then there was a 1-1 draw later that year with Callum Styles netting. The last meeting saw Birmingham win 2-1 at home in January 2022 over Poya Asbaghi’s Reds, with Victor Adeboyejo netting a consolation goal.

Barnsley captain Luca Connell is set to make his 100th appearance for the club.