CONOR Hourihane is expecting to learn a lot about his Barnsley team during a series of all-Yorkshire clashes starting with Saturday’s game at Bradford City for which he admits they will be seen as underdogs.

The Reds have not played for two weeks since throwing away a 2-0 lead after 87 minutes to draw 2-2 at Wycombe Wanderers. They are ninth in the League One table with 17 points from ten games, but have lost four and drawn one of their last five in all competitions.

After visiting Bradford, they host Rotherham United a week later then, a fortnight after that, they go to Doncaster Rovers on November 8. They are also due to host York City in the FA Cup.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: “I think we’ll learn a lot. There are some exciting games and we’ve put a lot of work in over the last couple of weeks with really intense training sessions.

“I have asked a lot of the players and I always sing their praises. They are a terrific group that I believe can be competitive at this level. We’ll be looking to hit this period head on with some good performances and results.”

Having gained automatic promotion in injury-time on the last day of last season, the Bantams are in the third tier for the first time since 2019.

Graham Alexander’s side are second having won seven of 11 games so far, losing just once at Doncaster Rovers last month. Bradford are the joint top-scorers in the division with 20, along with Leyton Orient.

They have not played in the league since drawing 2-2 at Rotherham United on October 2, but won 5-1 at home to Everton under 21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday with a much-changed side.

They have won all seven games at home this season in all competitions, while they average league crowds of just under 21,000.

They have beaten Wycombe, Luton, Wimbledon, Huddersfield and Blackpool at Valley Parade in the league.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: “No doubt it will be a challenging game.

“They are high in the league and on the crest of a wave from promotion last year. It’s one that the lads should be so so excited for.

“People maybe won’t fancy us but, in-house, we’ll be ready to go and put on a good show that gets us the result that we’re looking for.”

He added: “I watched Bradford at Rotherham. They were a really gung-ho team with runners forward, pressing, aggressiveness, throwing numbers into the box because they want to win the game. If you add in the atmosphere, it’s teed up to an exciting game.”

Forward Stephen Humphrys spent last season at Oakwell, scoring nine goals before turning down a new contract and joining Bradford. He has started five league games and come on in three, scoring once, while he bagged a brace in the trophy in midweek.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: “I know Humps very very well.

“We’ve kept in a bit of contact since he’s left the club.

“I really got on with him and liked him. I would like to think he’d say the same about me.

“There is no doubt he was a big positive in the ten games I had towards the end of last season.

“He was fantastic from an attacking point of view and got numbers. I managed to get the best out of him.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him.

“Hopefully he won’t do too much damage to the result and we can have a nice conversation after the game.

“He had a period towards the end of the season which managed to get him into a place where he could speak to other clubs.

“In football now you only need five, six, seven, eight games at the right time to get moves.

“Would I have liked to keep him? Absolutely.

“But he decided to go elsewhere.

“I wish him the best over the season but hopefully not at the weekend.”

Defender Jack Shepherd spent last season on loan from Barnsley to Bradford, playing 39 games in their promotion campaign.

The clubs have played each other 110 times, with Barnsley winning 41 and losing 38.

They last met in 2023 in the EFL Trophy with hosts Bradford winning 5-1.

The Reds had won the previous five meetings, including doing the double over the Bantams in the 2018/19 League One season.