Dennis Souza is a major doubt for a game that will decide which league Barnsley will be playing in next season, but captain Stephen Foster should return after illness. Adam Hammill who picked up a knock against Wolves last weekend should be fit. Tomorrow's game is the last in the loan deals for Hammill, Michael Mifsud, Andranik Teymourian and Maceo Rigters. Only Hammill is likely to be viewed as a target in the future.
Likely Line-Up:
Luke Steele
Rob Kozluk
Stephen Foster
Darren Moore
Bobby Hassell
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Hugo Colace
Anderson De Silva
Adam Hammill
Jon Macken
Daniel Bogdanovic
Head to Head
Depending on the result down at the Valley, what happens at Home Park could be crucial, so it's probably not advisable to tell you The Reds have only won four times in 32 visits to the Devonshire outfit. A draw will be enough tomorrow and The Reds have done this on eight occasions.
Frighteningly though Plymouth have won 20 of their home meetings with Barnsley, including a 3-0 thumping last season which came just four days before Barnsley went and won at Anfield.
Hope can be taken from the fact that The Reds were victorious at Home Park in the 2006-2007 season. They won 4-2 courtesy of two wonder strikes from Martin Devaney and a goal apiece from Lewin Nyatanga and Istvan Ferenczi. The Reds also defeated a very poor Plymouth side 2-0 at Oakwell back in December thanks to goals from Anderson De Silva and Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Barnsley 2-0 Plymouth Match Report 20/12/08
Barnsley 3-2 Plymouth Match Report 25/8/07
Barnsley 2-2 Plymouth Match Report 17/10/06
Last Six Plymouth v Barnsley Results:
20/12/08 Barnsley 2-0 Plymouth (Championship)
12/2/08 Plymouth 3-0 Barnsley (Championship)
25/8/07 Barnsley 3-2 Plymouth (Championship)
14/3/07 Plymouth 2-4 Barnsley (Championship)
17/10/06 Barnsley 2-2 Plymouth (Championship)
3/4/04 Barnsley 1-0 Plymouth (Second Division)
Overall Record:
Plymouth Wins: 29
Barnsley Wins: 16
Draws: 17
Plymouth Goals: 108
Barnsley Goals: 69
At Home Park:
Plymouth Wins: 20
Barnsley Wins: 4
Draws: 8
Plymouth Goals: 67
Barnsley Goals: 30
This Season
After finishing 10th, six points off the playoffs last season it has been a deeply disappointing campaign for Plymouth. They should think themselves lucky though as the three previous teams to finish 10th in the Championship- Colchester, Luton and Millwall all went down the following year!
Its been a close run thing for the Pilgrims as they have been at the wrong end of the table for most of the season, Norwich's defeat to Reading on Monday night ensured they would extend their Championship stay into a sixth season.
They have been hampered by poor home form and have lost 10 times at Home Park this season- the joint most home defeats in the division. Plymouth are currently on a run of just two wins in nine and they lost their last home game 3-0 to Doncaster
Barnsley are on an even worse run having won just once in the last 12 and not at all in the last seven since beating Crystal Palace 3-1 back on the 17th of March.
This has meant their season will be decided on the final day. The Reds have not been involved in a promotion/relegation decider on the final day of a season since the 1980-81 season when they defeated Newport 4-1 to secure promotion to the Second Division. That was in similar circumstances to this season, as The Reds were three points above the team trying to break into the promotion places with one game left, but the chasing team- in this case Huddersfield- had a better goal-difference.
The closest Barnsley have been to a decider on the final day since was when they travelled to Walsall in 2006 needing a win to secure a play-off place- and they duly did.
Most worrying may be the fact that in the two previous seasons The Reds have spent in the Championship, they have been away on the final day and have lost them both- 7-0 and 3-0. Norwich though have lost their last four final day games. Plymouth have won three out of the last five final day games, and Charlton- Norwich's opponents won their first final day game in the Championship- last year- 4-1.
Finally let us not forget it was Norwich who relegated Barnsley the last time they exited this division as well…..
Last Six Results:
Plymouth:
25/4/09 QPR 0-0 Plymouth (Championship)
18/4/09 Plymouth 0-3 Doncaster (Championship)
13/4/09 Birmingham 1-1 Plymouth (Championship)
11/4/09 Plymouth 4-0 Coventry (Championship)
4/4/09 Blackpool 0-1 Plymouth (Championship)
21/3/09 Plymouth 1-2 Burnley (Championship)
W: 2 D: 2 L: 2 F: 7 A: 6 GD: +1 Points: 8
Barnsley:
25/4/09 Barnsley 1-1 Wolves (Championship)
21/4/09 Coventry 1-1 Barnsley (Championship)
18/4/09 Reading 0-0 Barnsley (Championship)
13/4/09 Barnsley 1-3 Swansea (Championship)
11/4/09 Watford 1-1 Barnsley (Championship)
7/4/09 Sheffield United 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)
W:0 D:4 L:2 F:5 A: 8 GD: -3 Points: 4
Plymouth lie 19th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 51 points from 45 games.
Barnsley lie 21st in the Coca-Cola Championship with 49 points from 45 games.
Barnsley could go as high as 19th with a victory but will be relegated if they lose and Norwich win whilst Plymouth could go as high as 16th.
Mad Sites:
www.plymouthargyle-mad.co.uk
www.barnsley-mad.co.uk
Official Sites:
www.pafc.co.uk
www.barnsleyfc.co.uk
Other Fixtures:
Burnley v Bristol City, 13:15
Charlton v Norwich, 13:15
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd, 13:15
Ipswich v Coventry, 13:15
Nottm Forest v Southampton, 13:15
Preston v QPR, 13:15
Reading v Birmingham, 13:15
Sheff Wed v Cardiff, 13:15
Swansea v Blackpool, 13:15
Watford v Derby, 13:15
Wolverhampton v Doncaster, 13:15
