A look at Barnsley's matches in the first month of the season.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE, A, SATURDAY

August will be a gruelling and hectic first month of the season for the Reds, with at least seven games – possibly eight if they progress in the EFL Cup – as well as an ongoing transfer window.

It could shape their campaign since success on and off the pitch will begin to build much-needed momentum and support from sceptical fans.

The first week is the only one with definitely no midweek game, but they still have to make their longest trip of the season down to the Devon club where Conor Hourihane spent three years as a player.

Barnsley have not won away from home on the opening day of a league season since they beat West Brom in 1996 on their way to the Premiership.

This will be a tough start against a side who have just come down from the Championship.

BURTON ALBION, H, AUGUST 9

This game will be of interest not just for the important result of a first home match of the season, but also for the official attendance figures.

The Reds have, unusually, not publicised the season ticket sales which are expected to dip from almost 9,000 last season after a prolonged period of bad form at Oakwell.

Last season brought just six home league wins and ended with a humiliating loss to relegated Shrewsbury.

That is still the last time the Reds played on that pitch as there have been no home friendlies after the surface was ripped up late due to the boxing match in June.

Burton will arrive in good spirits after their great escape last season which included a 0-0 draw at Oakwell.

They may play Kyran Lofthouse who was sold by Barnsley to the Brewers last week.

FLEETWOOD TOWN, H, AUGUST 13

Considering Barnsley’s home record – and the fact that Bolton and Huddersfield visit later in the month – the Burton match and this Wednesday night EFL Cup tie feel like a crucial opportunity to generate some positivity at Oakwell.

James Norwood signed for Fleetwood this summer and could make his first return to the Oakwell pitch since telling fans and journalists he was moving to Oldham following a friendly in 2023.

Conor Hourihane scored in an EFL Trophy semi-final win against the Cod Army in 2016 and a cup run this time would help build momentum.

He is likely to rotate his side with the Bolton match just three days later.

BOLTON WANDERERS, H, AUGUST 16

This will be Barnsley’s third home game in a week and, in theory, their hardest.

But they will look for a repeat of the Trotters’ last visit in April when the Reds won 4-1 to end Bolton’s realistic chances of promotion and convince the board to give Conor Hourihane the head coach’s job on a permanent basis.

The Reds did the double over Bolton last season – having not beaten them in the previous 18 league meetings. The away end for this fixture is likely to be much more crowded than the previous two.

Bolton still have former Barnsley strikers John McAtee and Victor Adeboyejo.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED, A, AUGUST 19

After three successive home games, Barnsley then make two long away trips in five days.

The first is this Tuesday night match at London Road where they are unbeaten in five with three wins and two draws. Posh finished 18th last season and have lost a series of star players this summer.

But Hourihane, who will still have been in charge of fewer than 20 matches as a head coach, will have to outthink Darren Ferguson who is approaching his 1,000th.

Barnsley’s away form has been their salvation in the last two seasons and they will look to continue that this time.

AFC WIMBLEDON, A, AUGUST 23

Barnsley will play their first ever game at the Red Cherry Records Stadium.

The new ground, opened in 2020, is 200 yards from the site of the former Wimbledon club’s old Plough Lane home which Barnsley visited six times in the 1970s and 80s.

They will likely be favourites against the London club who got out of League Two via the play-offs but have lost several of their ever-present players from that team.

There could be an EFL Cup match a few days after this game if the Reds have beaten Fleetwood Town in the first round.

The Reds’ away matches in September are at Stevenage and Blackpool.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN, H, AUGUST 30

Another home game against a highly-fancied side.

The budget difference between the Yorkshire rivals has been shown this summer as, while Barnsley are mainly signing unpolished gems on loan or free transfers, Huddersfield reportedly spent more than a million on striker Alfie May – after already being in double figures for signings.

But the Terriers endured an awful second half of last season and they have a rookie manager in Lee Grant.

This will be a big few days as, the following Monday, the transfer deadline shuts at 5pm.

In September, Barnsley host Reading and Port Vale.