Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Ten: Barnsley v Doncaster Rovers

Team News

Reds boss Simon Davey has a few selection headaches ahead of this massive South Yorkshire derby that could be his last game in charge if it ends in defeat. Midfielder Hugo Colace who had his best game for the club last weekend against Norwich is struggling with an ankle injury. The Argentine missed the midweek defeat at Ipswich and has not trained all week. Obviously there is another gap in the midfield department with Brian Howard departing for Sheffield United but Diego Leon and Anderson De Silva are expected to continue their partnership from Ipswich where Leon in particular was impressive.

Davey will also decide whether to change his strikers once again after he has seen his side go five games without a goal. Miguel Mostto, who has scored recently for the Reserves is pushing for his first start since January.

Despite his double blunder at Portman Road, Heinz Muller is expected to keep the Number One jersey ahead of Luke Steele.

Likely Line-Up:

Heinz Muller

Rob Kozluk

Darren Moore

Dennis Souza

Stephen Foster

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Diego Leon

Anderson De Silva

Martin Devaney

Iain Hume

Jon Macken

Head to Head

I seem to say this every week but: If Barnsley are looking to end their dreadful run Doncaster is not the team they want to be playing. The two sides went 25 years without a meeting from 1979 to 2004 but have met five times in the last four years and Doncaster have won the lot scoring 16 goals in the process!

Four of the those meetings occurred in League One with Rovers winning 3-1, 4-0, 2-0, 2-0 but the biggest humbling was at Oakwell in the LDV Van Trophy when two own goals helped Rovers win 5-2!

In the successful 2005-2006 season The Reds only lost twice at Oakwell in the regular league season (both to Doncaster!)

If your looking for a bet for tomorrow- Stick a few quid on a red card. The last five meetings have produced four red cards!

Barnsley 0-2 Doncaster Match Report 24/9/05

Barnsley 2-5 Doncaster Match Report 18/10/05

Doncaster 2-0 Barnsley Match Report 11/2/06

Last Six Barnsley v Doncaster Results:

11/2/06 Doncaster 2-0 Barnsley (League One)

18/10/05 Barnsley 2-5 Doncaster (LDV Vans Trophy)

24/9/05 Barnsley 0-2 Doncaster (League One)

22/2/05 Doncaster 4-0 Barnsley (League One)

20/10/04 Barnsley 1-3 Doncaster (League One

3 /4/79 Barnsley 3-0 Doncaster (Fourth Division)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 18

Doncaster Wins: 23

Draws: 18

Barnsley Goals: 81

Doncaster Goals: 90

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 12

Doncaster Wins: 10

Draws: 8

Barnsley Goals: 47

Doncaster Goals: 41

This Season:

Despite the goal-fest this fixture usually produces all the odds are on a goal-less draw tomorrow due to the wretched form both sides are on.

Doncaster, fresh from a Play-Off Final victory over Leeds United started off life in the Championship with a great 1-0 win at Derby, who had just been relegated from the Premier League and went on to lose just one of their first four games which was rounded off with a 1-0 home win against Coventry. Suddenly though the tide has turned for Rovers and the next five games have all ended in defeat with just one goal scored. From being 10^th at the end of August, Rovers are now one place and two points above Barnsley in the relegation zone. Like The Reds their problem is taking their chances and they have won just one of their last eight away games.

Well Barnsley's recent form might not be quite as bad as Doncaster's but its not much better as The Reds have gone five matches without a win but have picked up two 0-0 draws in that time. Rovers hold the hands in win however two to one and many fans believe that if Rovers make it six wins in a row against Barnsley then Simon Davey will be gone. The Reds have not scored in those five winless games and both Barnsley and Rovers only scoring four goals apiece this season- the lowest in the Championship.

Last Six Results:

Barnsley:

30/9/08 Ipswich 3-0 Barnsley (Championship)

27/9/08 Barnsley 0-0 Norwich (Championship)

20/9/08 Southampton 0-0 Barnsley (Championship)

16/9/08 Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff (Championship)

13/9/08 Blackpool 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)

30/8/08 Barnsley 2-0 Derby (Championship)

W:1 D:2 L:3 F:2 A:5 GD: -3 Points: 5

Doncaster:

30/9/08 Doncaster 0-2 Sheffield United (Championship)

27/9/08 Doncaster 0-2 Southampton (Championship)