BARNSLEY will look to breach League One’s best defence when they host play-off contenders Stevenage from 3pm on Saturday.
The Reds are 15th, 12 points off the top six and three clear of the relegation zone – having drawn 2-2 at Reading on Saturday then lost 4-0 at leaders Cardiff on Tuesday.
Stevenage are seventh, three points off the top six and nine clear of Barnsley who have three games in hand on them.
A win for the hosts would mean they have more victories in the league at Oakwell this season than in all of last season with 11 games still to play there.
Stevenage have the best defensive record in the division with 24 goals conceded in 27 games but have netted just five in their last nine.
Hourihane told the Chronicle: “I back our players to score goals against anyone. Especially at home where our form this season has been decent – not amazing, but decent compared to maybe previous records.
“We back ourselves against anyone.
“We know we’re capable of getting good results.
“At home we’ve beaten Huddersfield, we beat Leyton Orient, we beat Blackpool, who are a decent side, in recent performances.
“We’re going to go into it all guns blazing and ready to go.”
Alex Revell’s Stevenage made a blistering start to the season, winning eight of their first ten league games which put them top of the table.
They have only won three of the last 17 so have slipped out of the top six.
They drew 1-1 home to Mansfield on Saturday, levelling in the 96th minute, then won 1-0 at home to Peterborough on Tuesday – a first victory in eight.
They have lost their last three away games at Cardiff City, Luton Town and Exeter City who beat them 3-0 a fortnight ago.
Hourihane said: “They are really organised – set plays, long throws – we need to be ready for that.
“Then we need to play good football and try to challenge them in a way we feel we can with the ball.
“We need to be really attacking and try to get a positive performance that will hopefully lead to a positive result.
“It will be really difficult.
“They don’t give too much away.
“They haven’t had too many wins but they got a very good win against Peterborough.
“They are coming off the back of a really good performance and result.
“They played a back five in that game but they have been typically a back four so there are a couple of things for us to consider.
“They are a very well-drilled team.”
Stevenage are unlikely to bring a large away following which has previously led to a flatter atmosphere at Oakwell.
Hourihane said: “When big teams come to town it’s much easier to get up for it because it’s two or three thousand in the away end and it gathers more energy in the stadium. But we need to create a buzz and energy.”
The clubs have met four times, all since December 2023. The Reds won that first meeting at Oakwell but have lost the last three. Stevenage did the double last season, winning 3-0 in Hertfordshire then 1-0 at Oakwell almost exactly a year ago with a last-gasp Dan Kemp goal.
This is scheduled to be the first meeting of two in 11 days as the Reds are due to visit Stevenage on February 10 in a rearranged game.
