BARNSLEY will bid to avoid a fifth straight defeat in all competitions when they visit Michael Duff’s Wycombe Wanderers from 12.30pm tomorrow.
The Reds have lost their last four in all competitions across the last fortnight, slipping out of the play-off places.
They won their first two away league games of the season at Plymouth and Peterborough but have lost their last two, without scoring, at AFC Wimbledon and Blackpool.
They also went down 2-1 at Notts County in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
The Chairboys sacked manager Mike Dodds after their first eight league games brought five defeats, one win and two draws. He was replaced by Duff who oversaw 2-0 wins over Northampton in the league and Wigan in the EFL Cup before losing 2-1 at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Wycombe are now 20th with eight points from ten games, outside the relegation zone by one place on goal difference. Duff spent the 2022/23 season at Oakwell, leading the Reds to fourth place with 86 points before they conceded a last-gasp winner at the end of extra-time to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off final having played for 70 minutes with ten men.
He moved to Championship Swansea that summer but was sacked in the December then, after taking over at League One Huddersfield for last season, he was again sacked in March when they dropped out of the play-off places.
He was reunited with Barnsley three times last season with Huddersfield, doing the double over them in the league and beating them in the EFL Trophy.
Reds head coach Conor Hourihane told the Chronicle: “It is probably still a little bit of a mix of his style and the old manager’s style. Any manager tries to put their stamp on it ASAP in terms of how they want to play and how they want their team to look.
“Michael has tried to do that over three games. Ultimately he wants to go in and put his stamp on things. He definitely has done that in terms of a couple of positive results out of the three and we have a tough test ahead.”
Asked if Duff’s time at Barnsley was something he looked to as inspiration, Hourihane said: “He definitely has a different style. He was five at the back, we play four. In terms of the games he won and getting so close to the Championship, absolutely.
“In recent years he was the most connected to fans and club. That is something we have tried to get back to.”
In his pre-match press conference, Duff said: “They have had a really good start then dropped off a little bit.
“If anyone saw the goals they conceded against Brighton, you’re not conceding many of them in League One. I watched them at Notts County but they changed pretty much the full 11. They are possession-based, they will press, but they have 60 or 70 per cent of the ball now.
“Conor has instilled a real identity.
“It’s a good football club. I’ve said before it was a mistake leaving when I did. It’s a proper football club.
“I am not 100 per cent sure what the fans think of me but I have nothing but good memories of my time there.”
The lunchtime kick-off will mean an early start for the away fans.
Hourihane said: “Half 12 down there is not easy for people.
“I know the following will still be first class and one that we’re all looking forward to seeing down there. It’s up to us to create a volume and atmosphere with our performance and hopefully we can send them home happy.”
Barnsley will look to end a run of four straight losses in all competitions.
“The ultimate aim is to put to bed this run that all teams have over the course of every season. It’s how quickly you can come through it.
“We’ve had a couple of disappointing results. Hopefully come Saturday we go into the break with a positive outlook.
“If we get a good result, regardless of the last four games, we will be a pretty decent position.”
There will be another familiar face to Barnsley fans in striker Cauley Woodrow who moved on loan to Wycombe from Luton in the summer transfer window. Wycombe also have ex-Red Josh Scowen but he is out with a long-term knee injury. The two clubs have met 14 times, with Barnsley winning seven and losing three.
The Reds lost at Adams Park in January, taking the lead through Jon Russell but Richard Kone – who has since moved to QPR – levelled with a penalty conceded by Donovan Pines then, after Marc Roberts was sent off, Kone won it in the 95th minute.
