A more detailed look at today's all South Yorkshire clash at Oakwell.
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Barnsley(4-4-2): Goodman; O'Keeffe, de Gevigney, O'Connell, Shepherd; Phillips, Kelly, Connell, Cleary; McGoldrick, Bradshaw.
Doncaster (4-1-4-1): Lo-Tutala; Sterry, Byrne, Pearson, Senior; Gotts; Molyneux, Bailey, Clifton, Adelakun; Hanlan.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Out injured: Josh Earl (foot), Tawanda Chirewa (ankle). Doncaster: Doubts: Zander Clark (illness) Brandon Hanlan (hamstring), Billy Sharp, Luke Molyneux, Sean Grehan (hamstring), Tom Nixon (hamstring).
KEY BATTLES
Jack Shepherd v Luke Molyneux
Doncaster’s right-winger Molyneux gave Barnsley’s makeshift left-back Jake Rooney a torrid time in the November meeting before the loanee was hooked at half-time and never played in the league again.
Conor Hourihane has continued to cycle through left-backs since then, currently using another centre-back playing on the left in Jack Shepherd who has been fairly solid so far but has not been matched against anyone in the mould of Molyneux who has eight goals and seven assists in the league this season including scoring in that Barnsley game.
Hourihane said he would not pitch Shepherd against a ‘dribbler’ but has been reluctant to give much gametime recently to his two natural left-back options Georgie Gent and Nathanael Ogbeta who have more pace than Shepherd but have both been suspect defensively. Molyneux could be a doubt for this match, having picked up a knock in midweek which is being assessed.
Reyes Cleary also gave Doncaster right-back Sean Grehan a grilling in November before he too was taken off at the break.
Patrick Kelly v Owen Bailey
These two midfielders were team-mates last season when Kelly was on loan at Doncaster.
Bailey, 27, had never scored more than seven goals in a season before but has 15 in all competitions this campaign.
He plays alongside the more defensive-minded Robbie Gotts who has been Rovers’ star man in 2026.
Kelly, although not as prolific as Bailey, has also had an impressive season and returned from injury this week.
It is a big week ahead for Kelly as he faces his former club before going on international duty for Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Italy.
Kelly has been playing alongside captain Luca Connell with Vimal Yoganathan, who scored at Doncaster in November, in a more advanced role or on the right.
Adam Phillips could push for a recall after a decent display off the bench in midweek.
Tom Bradshaw v Matty Pearson
These two were team-mates for Barnsley in the 2017/18 relegation season, after which they both left and spent much of the next seven seasons in the Championship.
Pearson had been in and out of the Doncaster team after signing in the summer but has been starting recently
Striker Bradshaw, while he has scored just once, has made a generally positive impact since arriving in the winter transfer window and could come back into the side if Hourihane chooses two strikers.
Doncaster also have another one of Bradshaw’s former Barnsley team-mates in forward Elliot Lee.
David McGoldrick v Billy Sharp
The two veterans strikers struck up a fine partnership at Sheffield United, where they were also team-mates with Conor Hourihane.
McGoldrick, the younger of the two at 38, is in inspired form with 12 goals in his last 15 games and 17 for the season.
He also has six against Doncaster across his career.
Sharp, who turned 40 last month, has ten goals this season although the last seven were in cup games and he has not scored in 21 league appearances since October, with the majority from the bench.
Barnsley thought Sharp should have been sent off in the previous meeting for an early challenge on Shepherd while Doncaster felt he was tripped late on in the box by Tennai Watson.
He is a doubt for this game after picking up a knock in midweek.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Ricky Charlesworth, Doncaster Free Press
It’s been an up-and-down season for Rovers but they look to have finally rediscovered some form as we hit the tail-end of the campaign.
Their last three matches have seen them post five points but they’ve looked far stronger defensively – especially in the draw at Bolton on Tuesday where they soaked up ample pressure and were well worthy of a share of the spoils.
Grant McCann’s sides always tend to end the season strong and Rovers – backed on by a sizeable away end on Saturday – will be looking to continue their decent derby form.
They’ve won four of seven all-Yorkshire tussles so far and a first league success in Barnsley since 2010 would be a nice way to continue their recent upturn.
REFEREE
David Rock
The Hertfordshire official last took charge of a Reds game on their first home match of the season when he gave Burton Albion a penalty in the second minute for a foul by David McGoldrick.
He took charge of two Yorkshire derbies last year as Huddersfield did the double over Barnsley as well as the Reds’ 7-0 win over Port Vale in 2023.
Bolton fans felt he should have sent off Luca Connell in the 0-0 draw in 2022.
He has given the third most yellow cards in League One this season but no reds.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Reds 1, Donny 3 – October 29, 2024
A meaningless match for Barnsley who were already out of the EFL Trophy having lost their first two group games. Joe Ironside and Harry Clifton put the visitors in front then, after a goal credited to Aiden Marsh but which did not appear to come off him, Kyle Hurst secured the victory for the visitors. Bayley McCann made his professional debut against the side managed by his father, who he has now joined.
Reds 1, Doncaster 1 – November 24, 2018
Daniel Stendel’s promotion-bound Barnsley were denied a sixth straight win by their neighbours. Herbie Kane – who would go on to play for the Reds – opened the scoring but Cauley Woodrow came off the bench to equalise.
Reds 1, Donny 0 – February 20, 2016
A Barnsley team who had just been taken over by Paul Heckingbottom and were captained by Conor Hourihane continued their push towards promotion. Ashley Fletcher won it with ten minutes left.
Reds 2, Donny 0 – November 19, 2011
In-form striker Craig Davies scored in both halves for Keith Hill’s team then Adam Lockwood was red carded for a tackle on Stephen Foster.
Reds 1, Donny 3 – October 20, 2004
Barnsley scored two own goals in this dismal defeat. Paul Reid and Tony Vaughan turned into their own nets either side of a Greg Blundell goal. Michael Chopra pulled one back late on then Barnsley’s Jacob Burns and Doncaster’s Ricky Ravenhill were both sent off.
