OCTOBER may show us whether Barnsley’s poor recent run is just a blip for a work-in-progress team, or a more worrying decline.

After an awesome August, it has been a stuttering September.

The Reds only played once in the first three weeks of the month – beating local rivals Huddersfield Town 3-1 which gave them the most points after seven games since 1996.

But then they lost to Blackpool and Port Vale without scoring, or barely shooting on goal, while being thrashed 6-0 by Brighton in the EFL Cup and losing at Notts County in the EFL Trophy.

Being ninth with 16 points from nine games is a reasonable start to the season given how badly they finished the previous campaign and that this is the beginning of a ‘reset’ under a rookie head coach. There is still plenty of credit in the bank and support in the stands for Conor Hourihane and his players.

But there are clearly a few problems.

Like last season, they are struggling to keep clean sheets, conceding sloppy goals and fading in the second half of games.

A lack of depth in the recruitment of forwards in the window is also costing them.

Saturday’s loss saw them play the type of boring, ponderous football that Hourihane had promised to move on from.

The Reds are in the division’s top five for passing percentage and pass completion, with Josh Earl and Luca Connell in the players’ top 11 for most passes, while only Cardiff have been involved in fewer aerial duels this season.

They have had the 16th most shots while no side has had fewer shots in the six-yard box this season.

They had played some fine attacking football but, last week, they looked rattled when cramped for space against high-energy opponents and struggled to break down deep and well-organised defences. The majority of their attacks come from the right and teams seem to be noticing that then planning accordingly.

They have blocked the fewest crosses of any team – stopping just six of 150.

The two-week international break after the trip to Wycombe could be vital for working out how to create regular chances again.

Marc Roberts and Georgie Gent are likely to be close to returning from injury by the end of the month, strengthening the squad depth.

Having just lost to two sides in the bottom six, their three games in October are more of a mixed bag. Wycombe and Rotherham are both currently in the relegation shake-up while Bradford are the early pacesetters in the division. A couple of wins would keep them in a very positive position overall heading towards the end of the year.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS, A, TOMORROW

Barnsley will come up against both a manager and a striker who worked wonders for them in spells at Oakwell across the last decade.

The Chairboys are managed by Michael Duff who, although he had a better squad than any of his less successful successors, did an excellent job to rebuild the Reds after relegation in 2022, set a club record of 32 wins in a season and only be denied promotion in the most heart-breaking and controversial of circumstances at Wembley. After being sacked by Swansea and Huddersfield, he joined Wycombe last month and has won two out of three games.

Meanwhile, Cauley Woodrow joined Wycombe on loan from Luton at the end of the summer transfer window. The only player to score 50 goals for Barnsley in the last 20 years, he was an excellent striker for the Reds but, since he left in 2022, has struggled for starts and goals at various clubs.

He has one goal in four games so far for Wycombe and will be hoping to emulate Port Vale’s Devante Cole – another of the Reds’ most prolific scorers of recent decades – by contributing to a win against Barnsley.

Wycombe, with their billionaire owner, were expected to challenge for promotion this season but are just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

They attempted to sign Reds captain Luca Connell in the summer but their several bids fell well short of the asking price.

The 12.30pm scheduling in Buckinghamshire is very harsh on the travelling fans.

BRADFORD CITY, A, OCTOBER 18

On the other side of a two-week break after the Wycombe game, because of the home game with Cardiff being called off due to international call-ups, Barnsley make the much shorter journey to West Yorkshire.

The Bantams, who were promoted last season, have made an excellent start to life in League One – winning seven of ten games which puts them first. Bradford had made the most tackles and interceptions of any team in the division. They were due to play a Yorkshire derby against Rotherham United last night.

For Barnsley, this will be the first of three league games against near neighbours as they then face Rotherham and Doncaster Rovers.

It could be a reunion for Stephen Humphrys, who moved to the Bantams from Barnsley in the summer, and Jack Shepherd – who was sent off at Valley Parade for Barnsley in 2023 then spent last season on loan to them.

After this, the Reds’ November games on the road – unless they are drawn away in the FA Cup – will see them visit Donny on the eighth then Stockport on the 29th.

MANCHESTER UTD U21S, H, OCTOBER 21

The Red Devils youngsters return for another EFL Trophy tie after, last season, they scored three times between 81 and 87 minutes to win 3-2 having been 2-0 down due to a brace by Vimal Yoganathan who was playing up front.

Jacob Devaney could play against his hometown club again and, while his father Martin will not be in the dug-out this time having left his coaching role in April, his brother Joel is in the Reds’ under 18s squad.

This Tuesday night match is sandwiched between league games against Yorkshire rivals.

Barnsley may need a win to keep their chances to qualifying through the game alive going into the final game.

ROTHERHAM UNITED, H, OCTOBER 25

Barnsley will look for an eighth successive win over the Millers, and a second of the season having come from behind to beat them in the second round of the EFL Cup at Oakwell in August.

Rotherham have not beaten Barnsley in 14 attempts since 1982 or won at Oakwell in 16 since 1970.

Going into last night’s game against Bradford, they had lost six of their last seven in all competitions and were second-bottom.

This could be a very tense affair if neither side’s form has picked up.

Barnsley’s next game after this will be in the FA Cup first round the following weekend.

In November, Barnsley are due to host Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy on the 11th, then Northampton Town in the league on the 15th – although that could be called off if either side has three international call-ups – and Luton Town on the 22nd.