BARNSLEY will look to end a three-game losing run when they host resurgent Burton Albion from 12.30pm.
The Reds have taken 17 points from 14 home games, the 17th best record in the division, after they followed two wins with a loss on Saturday to Stevenage who won it in injury-time like Tuesday’s hosts Wycombe.
The Brewers are 21st, three points from safety, so could move out of the relegation zone for the first time since August with a win at Oakwell.
They only won two of their first 25 league games this season but have won their last three which puts them joint top of the form table in the division over the last four matches.
Gary Bowyer’s side ended a nine-match winless run with a 2-1 success at Wigan Athletic last week then triumphed 4-2 at home to Rotherham United – who had been the form team in the division – on Saturday and 3-2 at home to play-off contenders Reading on Tuesday, thanks to an injury-time strike.
Clarke told the Chronicle: “It’s a massive game for us. For me, it’s been two really disappointing performances and two kicks where it hurts with two injury-time goals. That can sometimes be mentally challenging for the players but I will pick them up and make sure we treat Saturday’s game with the importance it needs and try to get back in that top six.”
He added: “I like Gary. He’s done a really good job, they are on a good run.
“He has changed the squad and found some wins.
“They are in a good place. They are trying to get out of the relegation zone.
“They have a big squad, they signed 23 in the summer and more now. He’s getting a tune out of them.”
Mark Robinson, who was appointed in the summer, did not win a league game for Burton and was sacked in October during a seven-game losing run which began with a home defeat to Barnsley.
Caretaker Tom Hounsell won two of eight games then Bowyer was appointed on December 17. The former Blackpool and Blackburn manager – who has never lost against the Reds in five meetings – has so far won three, drawn three and lost three of his nine games.
Burton have several ex-Reds.
They brought in left-back Owen Dodgson, who played 15 games on loan to Barnsley in the first half of last season, on loan from Burnley this window.
Former Barnsley goalkeeper Harry Isted joined the Brewers in the summer from Charlton but has only started three league games, and none since October.
Midfielder Tomas Kalinauskas, a former Reds under 23s player, has played in nearly every game this season, scoring once. He has been a substitute recently.
Centre-back Jason Sraha, who played two first team games for the Reds before leaving in 2023, has been mainly a back-up but made nine league appearances.
The clubs have met 14 times – all since 2014 – with the Reds winning seven and losing three.
Barnsley have won the last three meetings including in Staffordshire this season when Luca Connell’s superb free-kick was cancelled out by an 88th-minute leveller before Stephen Humphrys headed home in the 90th minute.
Burton have won once in seven games at Oakwell, losing four including the last two. They have not scored in their last three visits and were beaten 2-0 last season thanks to a Devante Cole double.