A TOTAL of 217 days have passed since Barnsley’s opening day loss against Mansfield Town at Oakwell.
The Barnsley faithful were optimistic of a positive campaign heading into the Friday night fixture, but two early goals from experienced professionals in Stephen Quinn and Lee Gregory quickly brought fans back down to earth.
Luca Connell pulled one back before half-time but the Reds were unable to build on that and lost the game 2-1.
In the 35 games since the Reds have been inconsistent – winning 15, losing 13 and drawing ten.
The Stags, under the leadership of Nigel Clough, have won ten, lost 17 and drawn eight.
This is the perfect chance for the team to show fans just how far they have come since that defeat.
But disappointing results in the past week have left the fans disgruntled.
Anything but a win tomorrow will surely end Barnsley’s slim chances of a late charge into the top six.
And it’s fair to say the season will then be classed as a failure.
SWITCHING SIDES
The Stags have five former Barnsley players in their ranks, while loan striker Jordan Rhodes had a short stint at youth level with the Reds.
Forwards George Maris and Rhys Oates, now both in their late 20s, came through the Oakwell academy and played briefly for the first team but are out injured.
Right-back George Williams, now 31, helped Barnsley to promotion in 2016 before leaving that summer.
He joined Mansfield last summer – after spells at MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Cambridge – and was mainly a back-up, starting nine games.
Goalkeeper Scott Flinders, who came through the Oakwell academy and played 14 games before leaving in 2006, is now 38 and did not play a league game last season but was handed a new contract.
Matty Craig, who started the season at Oakwell on loan from Spurs, is now at Mansfield.
Midfielder Louis Reed is from Barnsley but he came through the Sheffield United academy.
Barnsley also have two former Stags players in the side, most notably Davis Keillor-Dunn, who has scored 13 goals in the league this campaign.
He joined from Mansfield late on deadline day in the summer.
Corey O’Keeffe also played for Mansfield 18 times between 2020 and 2022 before joining Rochdale.
KEY MATCHUPS
Lee Gregory vs Marc Roberts
The Mansfield forward has scored six times against the Reds in his career, including in the Stags’ 2-1 opening day win at Oakwell.
The only time Gregory has failed to score against the Reds while at a club was whilst he was on loan at Derby County in the 2020/21 season.
He has scored twice for Millwall, twice for Sheffield Wednesday and once for both Stoke and Mansfield.
The 36-year-old is always a handful and his ten goals so far this campaign will give Roberts – who was a teammate of Gregory’s at Halifax – a lot to deal with.
Since his return to the starting lineup following a red card against Wycombe, Roberts has been a mainstay in the starting 11.
His experience must shine through tomorrow if the Reds are to avenge their opening day loss.
Will Evans vs Mael de Gevigney
Evans made his debut for the Stags in the reverse fixture and, although Keillor-Dunn started against the Reds that day, he has taken his place in Clough’s side since his departure.
He has scored 11 times in the league this season and is Mansfield’s top goalscorer.
He is likely to come up against the returning Mael de Gevigney who was sent off in the 2-1 win at Northampton at the back end of February.
He has since missed the games against Lincoln, Charlton and Blackpool – and the Reds have subsequently conceded seven goals.
The Frenchman will need to be back at his best to ensure his side are better defensively than they have been.
DKD vs Scott Flinders
Barnsley’s top goalscorer started the reverse fixture at Oakwell in August for the Stags, before he made the move to the Reds just weeks later on transfer deadline day.
The 27-year-old netted 22 goals and added ten assists as the Stags were promoted from League Two last season and was a fan favourite at the One Call Stadium.
He will come up against Flinders in the Mansfield goal.
The 38-year-old started his career at Oakwell, making 14 appearances in a three-year spell before signing for Crystal Palace.
He has started the last five games for the Stags, having been on the bench for the majority of the season so far.
Luca Connell vs Louis Reed
This game is likely to be won or lost in the middle of the pitch.
Connell, who has captained the Reds this season, has received criticism from the stands in recent weeks due to his sub-par performances.
But he’ll need to be back to his best tomorrow against Reed, who is from Barnsley.
The combative midfielder has captained the side in recent weeks, having played 30 times in the league this season.
