Coca Cola League One Final: Barnsley v Swansea City

Well here it is THE game of the season!

The Reds are 90 minutes away from a return to the Championship and apart from Matt Carbon have a fully fit squad.

The big backing is that Andy Ritchie will stick with the same side that started the epic semi final second leg victory over Huddersfield Town. This would mean play-off heartbreak for the virtual ever present yet out of form Chris Shuker but Ritchie seems to be keeping his cards close to his chest.

Probable Final Line-Up:

NICK COLGAN

BOBBY HASSELL

PAUL REID

ANTONY KAY

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM

MARTIN DEVANEY

STEPHEN MCPHAIL

BRIAN HOWARD

PAUL HAYES

MARC RICHARDS

DANIEL NARDIELLO

If Barnsley are to realise their dream they are going to have to do something they haven't done for 26 years, beat Swansea. To be fair though the two teams have only met 3 times since Barnsley's last victory.

In the previous meetings between the two sides this season Swansea hold the advantage.

Swansea thumped Barnsley 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium back in August and despite dominating Barnsley were held 2-2 by the Swans, who are looking for back to back promotions, at Oakwell in March.

In previous Play-Off experiences Barnsley have only featured in the play-offs once, back in 2000 when they beat Birmingham 5-2 on aggregate in the semis but were denied a place in the Premiership after losing 4-2 to Ipswich in the final at Wembley.

This is the 5^th time Swansea have featured in a play-off shake up however:

Back in 1988 they defeated Rotherham 2-1 on aggregate in the Division Four semi-finals before triumphing 5-4 on aggregate over Torquay in a 2 legged final.

Then in the Division Two semi-finals in 1993 they lost 3-2 on aggregate to West Brom.

In the Division 3 semi-finals in 1997 (the year Barnsley won promotion to the Premiership) The Swans defeat Chester 3-0 on aggregate before losing 1-0 to Northampton in the Final.

And finally in the Division 3 semis in 1999 The Swans were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Scunthorpe.

In this season's Play-Off semis, Barnsley lost 1-0 to Huddersfield at home before triumphing 3-1 away to go through 3-2 on aggregate. Swansea meanwhile drew 1-1 at home to Brentford before winning 2-0 away to go through 3-1 on aggregate.

In the league table Barnsley finished 1 point and 1 place above Swansea in 5^th.

Last 6 Barnsley v Swansea results:

4/3/06 Barnsley 2-2 Swansea City (League One)

29/8/05 Swansea 3-1 Barnsley (League One)

10/3/84 Swansea 1-0 Barnsley (Second Division)

12/11/83 Barnsley 3-2 Swansea (Second Division)

27/10/81 Swansea 3-2 Barnsley (League Cup)

(Barnsley won 4-3 on aggregate)

6/10/81 Barnsley 2-0 Swansea (League Cup)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 23

Swansea Wins: 30

Draws: 10

Barnsley Goals: 81

Swansea Goals: 96

Barnsley:

15/5/06 Huddersfield 1-3 Barnsley (League One Play-Off Semi Final)

Barnsley won 3-2 on aggregate

11/5/06 Barnsley 0-1 Huddersfield (League One Play-Off Semi Final)

6/5/06 Walsall 1-2 Barnsley (League One)

29/4/06 Barnsley 0-0 Bradford (League One)

22/4/06 Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley (League One)

17/4/06 Barnsley 2-2 Southend (League One)

W:2 D:3 L:1 F:8 A:6 GD:+2

Swansea:

14/5/06 Brentford 0-2 Swansea (League One Play-Off Semi Final)

Swansea won 3-1 on aggregate

11/5/06 Swansea 1-1 Brentford (League One Play-Off Semi Final)

6/5/06 Chesterfield 0-4 Swansea (League One)

29/4/06 Swansea 2-2 Southend (League One)

22/4/06 Oldham 1-1 Swansea (League One)

17/4/06 Swansea 0-2 Rotherham (League One)

W:2 D:3 L:1 F:10 A:4 GD:+6

So there you have it the last Team News of the season.

Let's hope the next time I talk to you Barnsley are a Championship side once again!

Get Behind The Lads This Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE THE 12^TH MAN!