More details on today's all-Yorkshire clash.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Barnsley (4-5-1): Goodman; O’Keeffe, O’Connell, Shepherd, Gent; Banks, Phillips, Connell, Kelly, Cleary; McGoldrick,
Huddersfield (3-4-1-2): Nicholls; Balker, Feeney, Wallace; Sorensen, Kasumu, Ledson, Mumba; Harness; Charles, May.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Injured: Josh Earl. Doubts: Tawanda Chirewa. Huddersfield: Injured: Joe Low, Marcus McGuane, Mickel Miller, Bojan Radulovic, Jack Whatmough. Doubts: Lynden Gooch.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Steven Chicken, We Are Terriers
After making a superb start under new head coach Liam Manning, Huddersfield have shown a worrying recession in recent weeks.
The Terriers are winless in their last four games in all competitions, and uncharacteristically struggled to create any real threat on the opposition goal in back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Stevenage and Doncaster.
A lack of centre-forward talent has been a big issue, but Huddersfield finally have Alfie May back from suspension for this game, while deadline day signing Ryan Hardie made a late cameo from the bench in midweek after arriving in the latter stages of recovery from a knee injury.
KEY PLAYER
Alfie May
The veteran striker is due to return for this game after being banned for four after pulling Luton’s Kasey Palmer’s hair which saw him sent off.
He played against Barnsley under 21s in midweek, to maintain fitness during his suspension, and did not score in a 2-0 defeat but will now come up against their first team defenders.
May has 94 goals at League One level, including braces against the Reds on their trips to his previous clubs Charlton then Birmingham in each of the last two seasons.
He moved to West Yorkshire for a reported £1million last summer and so far has five goals and three assists.
He will probably be the highest-scorer available on Saturday as ten-goal Leo Castledine left in January while seven-goal Bojan Radulovic is injured.
May may play up front with Dion Charles who has 74 League One goals and four against Barnsley for previous club Bolton but has netted just four in 50 games for Huddersfield.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Terriers 2, Reds 0 – October 5, 2024
Michael Duff’s side were deserved winners over his former club. Barnsley offered little in attack but held out for 83 minutes until Herbie Kane set up Ben Wiles then Davis Kasumu added a second in injury-time. Barnsley would also lose there three days later in the EFL Trophy by the same scoreline.
Terriers 1, Reds 0 – September 7, 2002
Huddersfield were managed by Barnsley man Mick Wadsworth and had ex-Red Adi Moses in their defence. Martin Smith got the only goal against Barnsley who would be placed in administration less than a month later.
Terriers 0, Reds 1 – April 24, 1999
A few days after the sacking of John Hendrie, Barnsley completed the double over their West Yorkshire neighbours following the 7-1 hammering earlier in the season. Mike Sheron got the only goal while caretaker Eric Winstanley gave a debut to 17-year-old Jon Parkin.
Terriers 0, Reds 1 – April 7, 1984
Barnsley produced an impressive performance and won the derby through a second half goal by David Geddis.
