An early insight into Saturday's game as Barnsley host Leyton Orient. The Os are 18th, 11 places and eight points behind the Reds who will look to finish a tough year for home form – with 15 points from the last 16 home league games since February – with victory in their final Oakwell fixture of 2024.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Barnsley (3-5-2): Killip; de Gevigney, Pines, McCarthy; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Nwakali, Connell, Gent; Humphrys, Keillor-Dunn.
Orient (4-2-3-1): Keeley; James, Beckles, Happe, Sweeney; Ball, Brown; Perkins, Donley, O'Neill; Kelman
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Out: Gaga Slonina (finger), Marc Roberts (calf), Josh Earl, Fabio Jalo (shoulder).
KEY PLAYER
Charlie Kelman
There could be an all-American battle if striker Kelman comes up against Barnsley centre-back Donovan Pines.
The 23-year-old Kelman is on loan from QPR to Orient for a second time, having helped them win promotion from League Two last year. He has seven goals this season in all competitions, and is the top-scorer for them in the league with four. Born in Essex, he grew up in Texas and has played for the USA at youth level.
Another option up front is Dan Agyei, who has three league goals and four assists, plus six goals in cup competitions this season. Their right-back Tom James is among the top assist-makers in the division.
Goalkeeper Josh Keeley made headlines recently by scoring a last-minute equaliser in the FA Cup against Oldham.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Reds 2, Os 1 – February 10, 2024
A remarkable game. Orient, who were unbeaten in eight, took the lead when ex-Red George Moncur set up Ruel Sotiriou in the tenth minute. The hosts dominated but could not score until Adam Phillips headed in on 88 minutes. Luca Connell was shown a second yellow card for apparently protesting to the referee that the visitors were taking too long to re-start. Phillips scored the winner in the 95th minute when he turned in a Corey O’Keeffe free-kick.
Reds 2, Os 2 – September 14, 1968
Debutant Norman Dean scored Barnsley’s first goal and assisted the second, for Eric Winstanley in the dying seconds. The visitors took the lead twice but conceded two equalisers.
Reds 3, Os 0 – March 16, 1957
The last in a 15-game unbeaten home run, including 13 wins, for Barnsley against Orient, which would end the following season. After the hosts hit the post twice, Tommy Holmes opened the scoring then won a penalty for being elbowed in the box which Arthur Kaye tucked away. Lol Chappell added a third late on.
Reds 2, Os 1 – December 23, 1911
The Barnsley team that would win the FA Cup that season gained a home victory just before Christmas. After George Lillycrop’s opener was cancelled out, England international George Utley won it. Utley had come back onto the pitch after a period off it due to injury in a bruising game which also saw the home side’s goalkeeper forced off hurt and an outfielder go in goal.
