A look at Barnsley's seven games until Christmas.
LUTON TOWN, H, NOVEMBER 22
The Hatters were favourites for promotion at the start of the season, still receiving parachute payments of £39million having suffered two successive relegations from the Premier League to the third tier.
They had a slow start but are ninth, having won their last four games in all competitions including a 3-0 success at leaders Stockport on Saturday. They sacked Matt Bloomfield in October and replaced him with 33-year-old former England midfielder Jack Wilshere in his first permanent managerial role.
As usual, Luton have plenty of ex-Reds. Jacob Brown could potentially return from injury at Oakwell while Hoyland man Jordan Clark and former Reds captain Mads Andersen have been regular starters.
STOCKPORT COUNTY, A, NOVEMBER 29
County are top of the table, despite a seven-game unbeaten league run ending at home to Luton this week.
The Reds ended their five-game wait for an away win with the derby success at Doncaster but this game, in theory, will be a tougher trip.
Barnsley have already sold out the away end, showing their continued excellent backing on the road. The match will be on David McGoldrick’s 38th birthday.
Corey O’Keeffe will not be able to play against his parent club. The wing-back is on loan to Stockport and has struggled for gametime but scored in the EFL Trophy this week.
PORT VALE, A, DECEMBER 2/3
Cup draws mean that Barnsley will play four consecutive away matches in all competitions from late November until the middle of December.
Their prize for sneaking through the EFL Trophy group on goal difference is a trip to Port Vale in midweek in the first week of December, with the exact date yet to be announced.
It will be another reunion with Darren Moore, Martin Devaney and Devante Cole.
Vale won at Oakwell in September but are joint-bottom and the lowest scorers in League One.
PETERBOROUGH, A, DECEMBER 6
London Road is the only place Barnsley have kept a clean sheet in 34 games, having won 1-0 there in August.
The Reds will be looking to reach the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in three years.
Peterborough sacked Darren Ferguson and replaced him with Luke Williams this month.
They moved off bottom with a 5-0 win over high-flying AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
LINCOLN CITY, A, DECEMBER 9
After visiting Stockport, Barnsley’s next league game is an another trip to a side in the top six.
This will be a third meeting between the Reds and the Imps in six and a half weeks.
Barnsley were comfortably beaten in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday and are due to meet again at Oakwell on December 29.
Barnsley did the double over Lincoln last season.
The Imps had been on fine form but have not won or scored in their last three league games.
LEYTON ORIENT, H, DECEMBER 13
This match is almost a year to the day since the London club won 4-0 at Oakwell to humiliate Darrell Clarke’s Barnsley.
Orient reached the play-off final in May but are now just one place clear of the relegation zone.
They have conceded the most goals in the division but scored the third most.
Barnsley’s following home games are against Mansfield Town on Boxing Day and Lincoln again three days later. In January, they host Wycombe – although it could be called off if either side are in the FA Cup third round – Blackpool and Stevenage.
EXETER CITY, A, DECEMBER 20
For the second successive year, Barnsley make their longest trip of the season down to Devon just before Christmas.
There are likely to be more Barnsley fans at the Callum Simpson fight in Leeds that night.
The Reds have won their last two games at St James Park where there was a fire this week which caused damage to the ground.
Exeter are currently 19th in the table.
Barnsley’s following away game is at Wigan Athletic on New Year’s Day then they are due to visit Port Vale three days later. They then make the long trips to Reading and Cardiff City within four days in late January.
