Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Twenty: Barnsley v Newcastle United

Team News

Captain Stephen Foster should be fit to face run away league leaders Newcastle tomorrow after having eight stitches inserted into an eye wound on Wednesday, and Daniel Bogdanovic should also start after feeling his groin during the week.

Likely Lineup:

Luke Steele

Carl Dickinson

Stephen Foster

Ryan Shotton

Rob Kozluk

Anderson De Silva

Nathan Doyle

Hugo Colace

Adam Hammill

Jon Macken

Daniel Bogdanovic

Head To Head

Barnsley are searching for their first victory over Newcastle tomorrow for nearly exactly 17 years. Their last success over the Magpies came on the 13^th December 1992 when a strike from Brendan O’Connell earned a 1-0 win at Oakwell. Newcastle were promoted to the Premier League as champions at the end of that season and remained there until their relegation this past summer. Since that 1992 game, the two sides have met eight times without any Barnsley success and the Toon have won the last four meetings. The most recent came in the Second Round of the Carling Cup in 2007-2008, when goals from Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins earned a 2-0 success at St James’ Park. The Reds certainly were not over-awed that night however as Dominik Werling hit the bar and forced a fantastic save from Shay Given. The two sides also met in the Third Round of the competition in 2001-2002 at Oakwell, with Newcastle taking the tie 1-0 through a strike from Craig Bellamy, 11 minutes from time.

The most high profile meeting of recent times came in the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup in the Reds one Premier League season of 1997-1998. Unfortunately Newcastle won 3-1 and would eventually reach the Final where they lost 2-0 to Arsenal.

In that Premier League season, the Magpies took four points off the Reds, drawing 2-2 at Oakwell, and winning 2-1 at St James’ Park.

On the plus side Newcastle have only emerged victorious from Oakwell three times in 18 trips.

Newcastle 2-0 Barnsley Match Report 29/8/07

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 11

Newcastle Wins: 17

Draws: 11

Barnsley Goals: 40

Newcastle Goals: 60

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 8

Newcastle Wins: 3

Draws: 7

Barnsley Goals: 25

Newcastle Goals: 18

This Season

If you think Barnsley are currently on a good run of form, just look at Newcastle! The Magpies have acquitted themselves well after their shock relegation from the Premier League. The Toon are currently seven points clear at the top of the Championship and have just equalled a club record of seven straight victories following a 2-0 win at Coventry on Tuesday. During those seven games, they have conceded just two goals, and none in the last four games. Overall they have been breached just ten times in their 20 games, the best in the division by seven goals.

Barnsley failed to make it three wins on the bounce after a drab 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe on Wednesday but are currently on their best run of the season after going five unbeaten. Extending this run to six games would be their longest unbeaten sequence since 2007 when they went seven without defeat.

Last six 2009-2010 Results

Barnsley:

9/12/09 Barnsley 1-1 Scunthorpe (Championship)

5/12/09 Blackpool 1-2 Barnsley (Championship)

21/11/09 Barnsley 1-0 Cardiff (Championship)

9/11/09 Barnsley 2-2 Sheffield United (Championship)

31/10/09 Peterborough 1-2 Barnsley (Championship)

27/10/09 Barnsley 0-2 Manchester United (League Cup)

W: 3 D: 2 L: 1 F: 8 A: 7 GD: 1 Points: 11

Newcastle:

9/12/09 Coventry 0-2 Newcastle (Championship)

5/12/09 Newcastle 2-0 Watford (Championship)