BARNSLEY will look to make it three away wins from three games on the road this season at newly-promoted AFC Wimbledon from 3pm.
The Reds have taken ten points from the first four League One games, placing them third in the early table.
After victories over Plymouth Argyle and Burton Albion, they drew 1-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, with ten men, then won 1-0 at Peterborough United on Tuesday.
Wimbledon were promoted last season, finishing with the best defence in League Two then winning the play-offs without conceding a goal – including a 1-0 victory in the final against Walsall.
The London club began this season with a 1-0 loss at title favourites Luton Town but won 2-0 at home to Lincoln City and 2-1 at Reading. They then lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff City on Tuesday, conceding very late on, so are 14th with six points from four games. They are managed by Johnnie Jackson who has been in charge since 2022, having previously managed Charlton Athletic.
Reds head coach Conor Hourihane told the Chronicle: “We need to be really really good with and without the ball. They cause problems for teams.
“Their games are very tight and there is not much in them. We need to be clinical when our chances come.
“We have to press with intensity and make them uncomfortable.
“We will be fully prepared for it.”
He added: “They are a really good side. They had brilliant success last season.
“Luton and Cardiff only just got past them but had a good win at Reading.
“Analysing them will be really important for us to go down there for a positive result. It will be a tough test. Johnnie Jackson has got them organised.”
If he plays, this game will be Davis Keillor-Dunn’s 50th for Barnsley.
The Reds are set to be backed by a 1,200 sold-out away end this weekend.
The two clubs have only been in the same division once before, in 2018/19 when Daniel Stendel’s Reds were held 0-0 at home in August before winning 4-1 in January. That was at Kingsmeadow, the ground they shared with Kingstonian, before moving to the Red Cherry Records Stadium which is yards away from the old Wimbledon club’s Plough Lane ground where Barnsley played regularly in the 1970s and 80s.
After the trip to London, Barnsley complete the month with two Yorkshire derbies at Oakwell as Rotherham United visit in the EFL Cup on Tuesday then Huddersfield Town in the league the following Saturday.
The Reds are due to start September with a trip to Stevenage on the sixth but it could be called off due to international call-ups. Vimal Yognathan and Jonathan Bland could be selected for Wales under 21 and their fellow midfielder Patrick Kelly for Northern Ireland under 21s.
If those three are called up, Barnsley could postone the match.
