Barnsley are expecting a ‘completely different game’ to their home win ten days ago when they visit Stevenage on Tuesday from 7.45pm.

The Reds won 3-1 at home to Boro on January 31, with two goals by the now-sold Davis Keillor-Dunn and one from David McGoldrick.

Stevenage are ninth, seven points outside the play-off places and five ahead of 15th-placed Barnsley.

They have won one in ten and lost 3-1 at Northampton on Saturday.

Hourihane said: “It's going to be a completely different game at their place. It's a tight pitch there and they've got a decent home record.

“The ball will be out of play a lot, probably. The way they set-up, with everything from throw-ins to set plays, we need to be really aware of that and respect it and kind of nullify that threat that they have. And then when we have the ball, try and play our way and try and attack the game and try and get a positive result.

“You can take some positives from the game at Oakwell because it's a short space of time, personnel will be similar, but we do feel like going there will be a different game completely.”

Stevenage have had a bizarre season at home. They won their first seven games there in all competitions then won none of the next nine across three months before beating Peterborough in their most recent home fixture.

They have only lost once at home in the league, to leaders Cardiff City, having drawn six and won six.

Their seven goals conceded on their own soil in the league this season is the fewest in English professional football.

Hourihane said: “They don't concede many and they don't concede many at home, particularly. Fans will think from the game at home, we'll go there with a similar performance and get the job done.

“It will be a really tough test for us. There probably won't be much in the game.”

Barnsley conceded twice from set pieces early at Bolton on Saturday.

Hourihane said: “Stevenage will look at that and think, right, we can exploit that.

“We will analyse Stevenage, what did they do the last time they won at home against Peterborough? They scored from a set piece.

“We have to be fully ready for it, fully prepared for it, respect it and try and stand up and not concede from any more set plays off the back of the weekend which was disappointing.”

Barnsley will go from the biggest crowd in League One at Bolton to one of the smallest.

“It’s a completely different stadium, different feel, different noise, because obviously 21,000 brings more than four.

“We need to create our own energy and intensity and press well and do the basics well in the game to give ourselves the best chance possible to come through with a positive result.”

Barnsley have already won more league games this season than last but have not won in seven away from home since November and only three in total.

Hourihane said: “I think it's better to be winning at home and not away. Just because it's in front of your home crowd and your home ground feels like a bit of a fortress and you feel like every time you come to play at home you're going to perform to at least to a decent level to give yourself an opportunity to win a game. I feel like that now at home at the minute which is a big positive.

“I think that away form just needs to improve a little bit.

“The last couple of performances away from home, particularly Cardiff and Bolton, have been poor. I think Reading, we were OK, could have won that game, but we were back five on the day and I didn't like watching the back five.

“Now that we've gone to a back four, we need to perform better away from home and end picking more results up away from home as well.”

Barnsley have visited Stevenage twice and lost on both occasions in 2024.

Having had a game called off late on, they lost 2-1 under Neil Collins after Adam Phillips put them in front, then were beaten 3-0 last season.