Barnsley will looking to continue their strong start to the season on Tuesday when they visit a Peterborough United side who have lost every game so far.
The Reds followed up wins over Plymouth and Burton with a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton on Saturday after playing from 52 minutes with ten men.
The Posh followed two play-off semi-final losses with an 18th-placed finish last season and have since lost their three top-scorers, Kwame Poku, Malik Mothersille and Ricky Jade-Jones, as well as captain Hector Kyprianou and star defender Emmanuel Fernandez.
Darren Ferguson’s side lost their opening two games of the season against clubs relegated from the Championship this year – going down 2-1 at Cardiff City then 2-0 at home to Luton Town. They were also beaten 2-1 at League Two Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup last week then 2-0 at Wigan on Saturday in the league.
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane said: “It’s going to be a test. Whether you’ve had good results or not so good at the start of the season, people will look to turn their fortunes around or continue the run they are on. We have a couple of big away games now. We have a right test in front of us and we’re looking to hit it head on.”
He also said: “They are a really good side who give you challenges. We respect them. Darren will be little bit disappointed with the start but we all know that can change quickly. I will be saying to the lads they can’t come off their work and they have to keep standards high.
“Peterborough will have done their homework on us, looking for their first result. We have to go about it in the right way. They are a good side with good players.”
Nathanael Ogbeta spent the first half of the 2023/24 season at Peterborough on loan from Swansea. He told the Chronicle: “It was really positive. Darren Ferguson helped me massively to get my confidence back because I was at Swansea at the time and not really playing there.
"He just poured belief into me and gave me the opportunity to show what I can do. I am grateful to him for helping me.
“I have good memories there but I have to be at it against them. It should be a good game, I am looking forward to going back and seeing some old faces.”
The Reds are unbeaten in their last five games at London Road, drawing two and winning three including a 3-1 success in their final game of 2024 thanks to goals by Donovan Pines, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jon Russell.
Vimal Yoganathan is suspended after his red card on Saturday.
