Carling Cup Fourth Round: Barnsley v Manchester United

Team News

Barnsley will be without at least four players for the massive Carling Cup clash with holders Manchester United. Full backs Carl Dickinson and Ryan Shotton, midfielder Nathan Doyle and striker Andy Gray are all cup-tied.

This could see Rob Kozluk and Bobby Hassell return to the side. Hassell has missed the last eight games in league and cup with an Achilles injury but played and scored in a friendly last week. Kozluk has been out of the side since the 5-2 defeat at QPR but was an unused substitute on Saturday in preparation for tonight. Gray's spot is likely to go to Jon Macken or Daniel Bogdanovic. "Boggy" could be preferred after impressing as a substitute at the weekend.

Mark Robins main selection dilemma is in the midfield. Doyle was not in the squad against Bristol City so his absence will not be a concern, but the impressive performances of Anderson De Silva and Jacob Butterfield after coming off the bench have pushed their claims. Jamal Campbell-Ryce is almost certain to be dropped after his poor display. Hugo Colace and Emil Hallfredsson should also be sweating on their participation but Colace was the match winner in the last round against Burnley

Likely Lineup:

Luke Steele

Rob Kozluk

Stephen Foster

Darren Moore

Bobby Hassell

Anderson De Silva

Hugo Colace

Emil Hallfredsson/ Jacob Butterfield

Adam Hammill

Daniel Bogdanovic

Iain Hume

Head To Head

Tonight will be the first time these two sides at opposite ends of the football finance ladder have met in the League Cup but there has been five FA Cup ties.

In 1937-38, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Oakwell before United sealed a narrow 1-0 win at Old Trafford. United then won emphatically 4-0 at Oakwell in 1964 before Barnsley's finest hour against The Red Devils.

In 1997-1998 when for the only season that both teams were top flight sides together, The Reds drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in the Fifth Round. An awful howler by goal-keeper Peter Schmeichel gifted John Hendrie the opening goal before Teddy Sheringham equalised just three minutes later. The Reds should have won the tie that day but amazingly referee Mike Riley failed to award a last minute spot kick when Gary Neville hauled down Andy Liddell in the area.

Never mind because the replay at Oakwell was a night to remember! Hendrie put The Reds 1-0 up and right on half time debutant Scott Jones made his dreams come true by firing in the second. Sheringham pulled one back 11 minutes into the second half but Jones amazingly scored again after 65 minutes to restore the two goal cushion. Andy Cole ensured a nervous finish with a goal nine minutes from time but Barnsley clung on for a famous victory.

That win is the only one Barnsley have mustered against United in the last 16 meetings, dating back to 1923. During that time there have been some hefty defeats. In that famous 1997-1998 season United won the league encounters- 7-0 at Old Trafford and 2-0 on the final day of the season at Oakwell. There have also been 4-1 score lines in 1937 and 1934. Overall United have scored 74 times in just 37 meetings, winning 21 of those to Barnsley's five. The Red Devils have also emerged victorious more times at Oakwell than Barnsley, winning seven of their 19 trips.

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 5

Manchester United Wins: 21

Draws: 11

Barnsley Goals: 27

Manchester United Goals: 74

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 4

Manchester United Wins: 7

Draws: 8

Barnsley Goals: 19

Manchester United Goals: 30

This Season

Carling Cup holders and Premier League champions Manchester United have made their customary rise to the top end of the table, sitting second with 22 points from 10 matches. They suffered only their second league defeat of the season at the weekend when they lost 2-0 at Liverpool- and hey even we win at Anfield! To progress to the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup Sir Alex Ferguson's side defeated Wolves 1-0.

After winning three league games in a row, Barnsley have followed that up with two successive defeats to stay on the fringes of the Championship relegation fight. Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Bristol City was the third time they have conceded three goals at home this season. To progress to tonight's Fourth Round clash (the furthest the club has been in this competition since they reached this round in 1999-2000) they defeated Lincoln (1-0), Reading (2-1) and Burnley (3-2). On that basis we should win 4-3 tonight!