More details on today’s 3pm kick-off at Oakwell.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Barnsley (4-5-1): Flavell; O’Keeffe, de Gevigney, O’Connell, Earl; Phillips, Bland, Connell, Kelly, Cleary; McGoldrick.
Stockport (4-2-3-1): Addai; Osborn, Wootton, Pye, Edun; Norwood, Bailey; Stokes, Mothersille, Barry; Sidibeh.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Doubts: Tom Bradshaw (Achilles), Adam Phillips (ankle). Suspended: Vimal Yoganathan.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Sam Byrne, Manchester Evening News
It looked for a while like Stockport would comfortably secure a play-off spot, but they’ve slipped up in recent weeks with home defeats to Mansfield and Port Vale, and conceding that stoppage time equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Exeter.
They go to Oakwell needing a result to confirm a play-off spot, otherwise they’ll be hoping teams elsewhere can do them a favour.
I’d imagine they’ll set up to try and attack and win the game, and won’t want to be relying on a draw.
Dave Challinor was irate after the midweek loss to Port Vale, where a point would have secured a play-off spot, and he suggested afterward that there would be several changes for Saturday.
But with eight injuries, there aren’t many changes to make, other than Louie Barry surely coming back in.
KEY PLAYER
Louie Barry
The former Barcelona youngster was League One’s star player in the first half of last season, netting 16 goals in 24 games for Stockport on loan from Aston Villa including a late leveller in a draw at Oakwell.
He was recalled in January last year then struggled on loan at Championship clubs Hull and Sheffield United before returning to Stockport in January this year but did not play until April as he was recovering from a knee operation.
The attacking midfielder netted a hat-trick on Saturday in a win against Peterborough before coming off the bench in the midweek loss to Port Vale.
Their top-scorer is Kyle Wootton who has 19 goals, the second most in the division. But he has not scored since late March as he has been playing at centre-back, not up front as usual, due to a defensive injury crisis.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Reds 1, Hatters 1 – September 28, 2024
Adam Phillips scored a fourth-minute penalty after Davis Keillor-Dunn was judged to have been fouled by Tyler Onyango. Louie Barry levelled in the 91st minute with a shot that deflected in off Corey O’Keeffe.
Reds 3, Hatters 3 – November 29, 2003
Future England and Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert netted a late leveller for the visitors. Kevin Betsy had put Barnsley in front then, after they trailed 2-1, he set up Dean Gorre to level before netting a second for 3-2.
Reds 2, Hatters 2 – September 8, 2001
Barnsley missed a series of chances then conceded a leveller with two seconds left against a Stockport side who would finish well adrift at the bottom of the second tier and be joined in relegation by the Reds. After Mike Sheron opened the scoring early in the second half, Mike Flynn – who would join Barnsley the following year – levelled but then smashed a clearance into team-mate Keith Briggs minutes later for a bizarre own goal.
Reds 1, Hatters 0 – February 26, 1977
Brian Joicey secured this win with his 23rd goal of the season.
