BARNSLEY V BLUES PREVIEW
A full match preview ahead of Blues' Championship game at Oakwell this evening.
TEAM NEWS
Blues
Garry O'Connor is back in the Blues squad for the first time since October, following his recovery from a groin injury.
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Garry O'Connor is back in the fray |
O'Connor will most likely be on the substitutes' bench.
Still on the sidelines for Blues are Djimi Traore (hamstring), Kevin Phillips (hamstring), Liam Ridgewell (thigh), Stuart Parnaby (thigh), Kemy Agustien (groin), James McFadden (knee) and David Murphy (thigh).
Barnsley
Barnsley boss Simon Davey is without Stephen Foster and Andranik Teymourian (both suspended) and Anderson de Silva who is on compassionate leave in Brazil
Michael Mifsud is doubtful for the game because of a thigh injury.
Definitely out are Diego Leon (hamstring), Iain Hume (fractured skull) and Michael Coulson (knee).
Martin Devaney is back in contention after missing the Tykes last game against Cardiff for family reasons.
FORM GUIDE
Alex McLeish's side go into tonight's game in good spirits having won their last two games against Bristol City and Southampton at St. Andrew's.
The six point haul has seen them retain second spot in the Championship table, just three points behind Wolves, but still to play the leaders.
Barnsley are currently in relegation trouble as they sit in 21st place in the table, some two points behind Nottingham Forest, but with three games in hand on the Reds.
Davey's side have had a mixed bag of results recently.
Of their last five games, they have won two, lost two and drawn one of them
In their last Championship game, Barnsley were convincingly beaten 3-1 away at Cardiff.
MANAGER'S COMMENTS
Alex McLeish
"Our target is to make it three wins on the bounce.
"It's getting to the stage now where a good run of games would be beneficial to any of the teams vying for promotion.
"We've got to build on the momentum of the last two home games and it's definitely about winning some away games that is going to be the key for us.
"It's not easy going away from home, but teams who invariably win titles and cups have the ability and mentality to do that and that's what we have to do.
"We've got into a gameplan now where which we're not going to deviate too much from because it's suited the players and they have given us the performances.
"I think Simon Davey and his Barnsley team deserve a lot of credit, because they've they've had to deal with a lot of changes, with players leaving and coming in and losing loan deals.
"They've almost had to build a couple of teams in one season.
Simon Davey
"Having the weekend off gave us the chance to get out and see the opposition in action for ourselves.
"I was at Birmingham and it was a good chance to see how they played.
"We were able to see first hand the patterns of play they use and highlight weaknesses we can exploit.
"We have seen Birmingham City play a lot this season and we had a dossier on them.
"Last weekend was all about fine tuning things and understanding their system and style of play.
"We did pretty well at Birmingham earlier in the season but gave them two chances and were two down.
"We dominated most of that game, which is something we have done a lot of times this year, but just could not come away with a result.
"Birmingham's budget is huge and they have just come down from the Premier League.
"They want to go straight back up but I have to ask whether they have better players than us?
"The league table says they do but on any given afternoon we believe that we can be more than a match for them. We have to make sure we are better than them on Tuesday.
"We have a completely different side now and we are stronger.
"Birmingham will come here with arrogance about them because they are going for promotion.
"They will expect to come and win this game and attack us. Hopefully that will benefit us".
LAST MEETING
Blues 2 Barnsley 0
St. Andrew's
August 23, 2008
Blues recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Barnsley when the two sides met earlier this season.
First half goals from Kevin Phillips and Garry O'Connor secured all three points and at the same time helped extend Blues' unbeaten start to the season.
Phillips struck on 13 minutes with a close range header, before O'Connor also headed home his side's second goal on the stroke of half time.
BETTING
Blues are favourites to win the game at odds of 11/8 with Bet365.
The draw is on offer at 9/4 and a Blues win at 2/1.
If you're looking for better odds, a 1-0 draw with Cameron Jerome scoring first is available at 40/1.
For the full range of odds available, please click here
MATCH COMMENTARY
If you can't make it to Oakwell, you can listen to full 90 minutes commentary of the game on Blues World.
The official website, bcfc.com, will have a match report available minutes after the final whistle along with Alex McLeish's post-match comments.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Referee Graham Horwood will take charge of the game at Oakwell.
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Graham Horwood |
He has never previously taken charge of a Blues fixture.
Mr Horwood will be assisted by Scott Duncan from Tyne and Wear and Paul Marsden from Lancashire.
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for Barnsley on Tuesday evening is partly cloudy with a maximum temperature of 8 degrees Centigrade.
TICKETS
On Monday afternoon Barnsley Football Club stated that tonight's game has been made all ticket for Blues fans.
Blues fans have until 3pm on Tuesday to purchase tickets from the St. Andrew's ticket office.
NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM BARNSLEY F.C. ON THE EVENING OF THE GAME. SUPPORTERS SHOULD NOT TRAVEL WITHOUT A TICKET.
Ticket Prices:
Adult - £19.00
Senior Citizen - £11.00
Under 18 - £11.00
Under 11 - £5.00 (must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen)
Other Championship fixtures this evening
Bristol City v Coventry, 19:45
Doncaster v QPR, 19:45
Norwich v Cardiff, 19:45
Preston v Sheff Wed, 19:45
Reading v Charlton, 20:00
Sheff Utd v Blackpool, 19:45
Southampton v Derby, 19:45
Swansea v Plymouth, 19:45
Watford v Nottm Forest, 19:45
Wolverhampton v Ipswich, 19:45
