Barnsley will start the 2021-2022 Championship season with a trip to face bogey side Cardiff City, the first time they have started a season on the road since 2017-2018.
The Reds have only won two of their last 13 visits, losing eight including each of the last three and their heaviest away league defeat of 2020-2021 came at the Cardiff City Stadium, 3-0 in November, the departed Ismael’s first defeat in charge.
Barnsley have failed to win any of their last 11 season openers which have been on the road, losing eight, last winning away from home in a season opener in the promotion season of 1996-1997, 2-1 at West Brom.
It is the first time Barnsley and Cardiff have met in a season opener since 2006-2007 when the Reds first game back in the Championship following play-off promotion in Cardiff against Swansea was against the Bluebirds at Oakwell, Cardiff winning 2-1.
Following this Barnsley have back to back home games against Coventry and Luton – both of whom they also met at Oakwell in the first month of 2020-2021 albeit that was in September. The Reds failed to score a goal against either side at home last season, losing the curtain raiser 1-0 to Luton and drawing 0-0 with Mark Robins Sky Blues.
Barnsley finish the opening month with a trip to QPR where they have won in each of the last two seasons following a 70 year stretch without a win on Rangers soil and then a home game with Birmingham City.
Barnsley's final game of the season sees them head to the Hawthorns to face the manager who left Oakwell today (if he is still in charge) a visit to a ground they have not won at in seven visits since 2000, losing four.
This is the third time a trip to the Hawthorns will conclude Barnsley’s regular season in 14 years, having lost 7-0 in 2007 and drew 1-1 in 2010.
Other key dates are as follows:
Sheffield United home (23rd October)
Stoke home (Boxing Day)
Blackburn away (29th December)
Nottingham Forest away (New Year’s Day)
Sheffield United away (19th March)
Preston (Final home game 30th April)
Full fixtures can be found by clicking here