Barnsley will play a fourth successive away game when they visit high-flying Lincoln City in League One from 7.45pm on Tuesday.
The Reds are tenth in League One, with 25 points from 15 games – three off the top six with at least two games in hand on most teams.
They drew 1-1 at Stockport County last week, conceding a late equaliser to deny them a third straight league win. They were then beaten 5-0 at Port Vale in the EFL Trophy and won 1-0 at Peterborough United in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Lincoln are fourth in the table, four points off top and six ahead of the Reds who have played three fewer games.
After an unbeaten run of eight league games, including five wins, they have lost four of their last eight.
Michael Skubala’s team were top of the league a fortnight ago but a loss at Wycombe dropped them down to fourth.
They then won 1-0 at home to bottom club Port Vale last week then lost to Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy.
They have won their last three home games in the league and have the division’s third-best home record.
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane said: “In the last three or four games, they have played in tight games and come through them with the right results. I know they played Huddersfield in the trophy and have not had a game since and they didn’t come out on the right side of that.
“They are really good and have their strengths like any team.
“Michael Skubala is similar to Dave (Challinor) at Stockport. Things take time. You have to go about business in the right way, they have built a squad and it shows when you take small steps at a time you can go onto something good.
“They have a lot of knowhow for the level. They have Sonny Bradley and Adam Reach who are tried and tested at this level and above. They don’t give up much, they are involved in tight games and come out on the right side a lot and hopefully we come out on the right side of it.”
Lincoln did not play at the weekend, having been knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round.
Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly added: “They have been really good this season. They have been on a good run in the league. They are physical and direct. It’s about us going there to try to nullify them and try to play our own game. They didn’t play on Saturday so people might think they will be more fresh but we’ve made a lot of changes in the last few games so that shouldn’t be an issue.”
This is the second of three meetings in seven weeks. Lincoln won 2-0 in the EFL Trophy on November 11 at Oakwell and are due to return there on December 29.
Hourihane said: “The last game was in the trophy with not a lot of fans in the ground. We expect them to come out more at home for sure. Both teams will look different. You can judge it a bit on that game but a league game under the lights at their place will be a different energy and completely different feel.”
The clubs have met 78 times, with Barnsley winning 35 and losing 27.
They did not meet in the league from the 1970s until 2022, with Lincoln then winning twice at Oakwell and drawing at Sincil Bank.
Barnsley did the double over the Imps last season, winning 2-1 in August thanks to goals by Sam Cosgrove and Marc Roberts then 4-3 at home in March having been 4-1 up with the scorers being Davis Keillor-Dunn, Adam Phillips, Georgie Gent and Max Watters.
Lincoln have Dexter Lembikisa who was on loan at Barnsley earlier this year. He has come off the bench twice in league games.
