A round-up of Barnsley FC related stories coming out of the weekend.
‘WE HAVE JUST GOT TO GET THE HOME FORM GOING’
Darrell Clarke is once again urging his Barnsley players to ‘get the home form going’ ahead of their pre-Christmas match with Leyton Orient on Saturday.
The Reds have won six of their first ten away games, only leaders Wycombe have more than their 19 points on the road. But they have the 19th best home record in the division with two wins from ten.
After the 2-1 win at Exeter at the weekend, Clarke told the Chronicle: “I am happy with six away wins at this point. Away form has been strong. We have just got to get the home form going. Points dropped from winning positions at home have cost us. We have to keep working on that. We will all focus on the Leyton Orient game now and trying to win that.”
Although Clarke has generally been pleased with his side’s performances in recent months, they have produced two very poor first halves against Wigan in late November at home then at Exeter.
He said: “It’s a bit worrying but you have to put context into it with new players coming in. It was a bit raggy first half. I asked for an improvement and I got one.
“There is character in there. I don’t doubt that. We just have to keep getting better and better. We have a lot to work on.”
Saturday’s visitors Orient are 18th in the table but unbeaten in five games in all competitions and have kept four successive clean sheets.
WOMEN END YEAR WITH LOSS
Barnsley FC women finished 2024 with a 4-0 home loss to Durham Cestria in the National League Division One North.
The Reds had been unbeaten in four with two wins and two draws but were 3-0 down at half-time then the visitors added another late on.
They slipped down a place to seventh in the 12-team table with 14 points from 13 of their 22 games – four clear of the two-team relegation zone.
The Reds now have three weeks off before returning with a game at second-placed Cheadle Town Stingers on January 5.
MCCANN NETS FIRST SENIOR GOAL
Bayley McCann netted his first senior goal in a 3-1 win for loan club Peterborough Sports at home to Warrington in National League North.
The young left-back is currently on loan at Luke Steele’s club along with Jonathan Bland.
Jack Shepherd played the whole game for Bradford City in a 1-0 win at home to Swindon Town in League Two.
Andy Dallas came off the bench for Barrow in a 1-0 loss at Walsall.
Kacper Lopata returned from injury to play in Ross County’s 3-1 loss at Hibernian.
Young midfielder Callum West has been loaned to Hyde United.
WILKINSON CAPTAINS ENGLAND UNDER 16S
BARNSLEY youngster Oliver Wilkinson captained England under 16s once again this week.
The centre-back, who turns 16 next month, skippered them to a 2-1 win over the Netherlands thanks to a 96th minute winner.
The Reds academy product has been a regular for the young Lions having also become the club’s youngest ever starter earlier this season.
UNDER 21S TO HOST WEDNESDAY
Barnsley under 21s are due to host Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday in their final game of the year, from 2pm on the showcase pitch.
They will be looking to end a six-game losing run.
Barnsley under 18s had lost in the last seconds at Burnley on Saturday.
