Team News
Barnsley might have to find a whole new midfield tomorrow with Diego Leon, Hugo Colace and Anderson De Silva all set to miss out with injury. Leon has pulled his hamstring, Colace has a damaged thigh and Anderson's ankle is still playing up after it was gashed against Preston two weeks ago. Rob Kozluk is also out with his cheek injury and Michael Coulson has worryingly hurt his knee again. Davey may put Jamie Cureton on the wing and Bobby Hassell is set for another game as a holding midfielder.
Likely Line-Up:
Heinz Muller
Marciano Van Homoet
Dennis Souza
Darren Moore
Stephen Foster ©
Bobby Hassell
Mounir El Haimour
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Jamie Cureton
Jon Macken
Maceo Rigters
Head to Head
Barnsley are aiming to make it four games unbeaten in the league and four unbeaten against Southampton. The Reds have lost just once in the last six meetings with the boys from the South Coast, but that was a real thumping- 5-2 at St Mary's Stadium in February 2007. Since then there have been one win and two draws but it really should have been three wins.
An epic contest in September 2007 gave The Reds their first away win of 2007-2008 (one of only three). The Reds were 2-0 up at after 40 minutes through two cracking Grant McCann free-kicks before those well-known defensive frailties resurfaced to allow Marek Saganowski and Inigo Idiakez in both half's stoppage time, but then in even later injury time Martin Devaney struck for the points.
It wouldn't be the only time The Reds threw a 2-0 lead away against Southampton, as it happen again in the return fixture at Oakwell in December 2007. Sam Togwell scored after just 16 seconds and when Jamal Campbell-Ryce made it 2-0 after 34 minutes The Reds were heading for the top ten, but somehow The Reds fell to pieces in the second half and a Bradley Wright-Phillips brace earned Southampton a point.
And in this season's away meeting, Iain Hume missed an open net in a 0-0 draw. It was Barnsley's first point on the road in 2008-2009.
Barnsley 2-2 Southampton Match Report 29/12/07
Barnsley 2-2 Southampton Match Report 19/8/06
Last six Barnsley v Southampton Results:
20/9/08 Southampton 0-0 Barnsley (Championship)
29/12/07 Barnsley 2-2 Southampton (Championship)
22/9/07 Southampton 2-3 Barnsley (Championship)
17/2/07 Southampton 5-2 Barnsley (Championship)
19/8/06 Barnsley 2-2 Southampton (Championship)
14/3/98 Barnsley 4-3 Southampton (Premier League)
Overall Record:
Barnsley Wins: 21
Southampton Wins: 19
Draws: 13
Barnsley Goals: 82
Southampton Goals: 93
At Oakwell:
Barnsley Wins: 14
Southampton Wins: 5
Draws: 7
Barnsley Goals: 56
Southampton Goals: 34
This Season
Southampton have found it hard going under new manager Jan Poortvliet, as the club is saddled with debts and past glories. The club were a top flight club for 27 years, and reached the Championship play-offs in 2007, but last season they survived relegation to League One by just two points and this year could be the year they dip below the top two tiers for the first time since 1960!
They currently sit second from bottom of the league with just five wins from their 26 games so far and they have won just once at home. The Saints are currently on a winless run of nine games which includes five defeats in their last six games. They shouldn't be underestimated however, as their last victory was a 2-1 win at high flying Reading in November. To put it into context Reading have won 10 drawn 2 and lost 1 at home this season so it showed there is quality in a young Southampton side and it may just be consistency that is lacking. Poortvliet moved to strengthen his squad last Friday with moves for Milwall's Ryan Smith and Everton's Lee Molyneux. Smith made his debut in the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United last weekend whilst Molyneux was an unused substitute. Both are set for their league debuts at Oakwell.
If Barnsley win tomorrow they'll equal their best run of the season when they won three and drew one against Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Doncaster and Charlton.
Last Six Results
Barnsley:
3/1/09 West Ham 3-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)
28/12/08 Barnsley 1-1 Preston (Championship)
26/12/08 Burnley 1-2 Barnsley (Championship)
20/12/08 Barnsley 2-0 Plymouth (Championship)
13/12/08 Wolves 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)
9/12/08 Swansea 2-2 Barnsley (Championship)
W:2 D:2 L:2 F:7 A:11 GD:-4 Points:8
Southampton:
4/1/09 Southampton 0-3 Manchester United (FA Cup)
28/12/08 Southampton 1-1 Reading (Championship)
26/12/08 Plymouth 2-0 Southampton (Championship)
20/12/08 Southampton 0-2 Nottingham Forest (Championship)
13/12/08 Burnley 3-2 Southampton (Championship)
8/12/08 Crystal Palace 3-0 Southampton (Championship)
W:0 D:1 L:5 F:3 A:14 GD:-11 Points:1
Barnsley lie 16th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 32 points from 26 games.
Southampton lie 23rd in the Coca-Cola Championship with 23 points from 26 games.
Mad Sites:
www.barnsley-mad.co.ukwww.southampton-mad.co.ukOfficial Sites:
www.barnsleyfc.co.ukwww.saintsfc.co.uk
Other Fixtures:
Friday, 9 January 2009
Reading v Watford, 20:00
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Barnsley v Southampton, 15:00
Blackpool v Birmingham, 15:00
Burnley v Swansea, 17:20
Cardiff v Derby, 15:00
Charlton v Nottm Forest, 15:00
Doncaster v Bristol City, 15:00
Ipswich v Sheff Wed, 15:00
Plymouth v Crystal Palace, 15:00
QPR v Coventry, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Norwich, 15:00
Wolverhampton v Preston, 15:00