Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Four: Barnsley v Norwich City

Team News:

Barnsley are missing Stephen Foster, Hugo Colace and Nathan Doyle for the visit of play-off contenders Norwich City. Foster and Colace are out for a month whilst Doyle misses out with a calf strain picked up in the 3-3 draw at Leeds on Tuesday. Fellow midfielder Jacob Mellis faces a late fitness test after he also limped off at Elland Road with a hamstring injury.

If Mellis is fit to play, manager Mark Robins is likely to go with the side that finished the game on Tuesday, meaning Bobby Hassell will move into midfield, Kieran Trippier will drop to right back and Jim O’Brien will come into the side.

Likely Lineup:

Luke Steele

Matt Hill

Jason Shackell

Paul McShane

Kieran Trippier

Diego Arismendi

Jacob Mellis

Bobby Hassell

Jim O’Brien

Danny Haynes

Garry O’Connor

Head To Head:

Barnsley 0-0 Norwich Match Report 27/9/08

Barnsley 1-3 Norwich Match Report 12/1/08

Barnsley 1-3 Norwich Match Report 3/3/07

Last Six Barnsley v Norwich results:

11/9/10 Norwich 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)

17/1/09 Norwich 4-0 Barnsley (Championship)

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

23/2/08 Norwich 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)

12/1/08 Barnsley 1-3 Norwich (Championship)

3/3/07 Barnsley 1-3 Norwich (Championship)

Interesting Stats:

Home advantage does not particular benefit Barnsley as both sides have won six Oakwell meetings, with five drawn. The Canaries are also unbeaten in their last four vists, winning three of them.

One of those home defeats was 2-0 in April 2002 and relegated Barnsley to the third tier of English football for the first time in 22 years!

Norwich also know how to win at Oakwell no matter how well The Reds are doing on their own patch. A 3-1 Norwich victory in January 2008 ended a 14 match unbeaten home record stretching back to the opening day of the 2007-2008 season.

Overall Barnsley have not beaten Norwich in the last 10 meetings home or away and have won just nine of 37 meetings between the two sides.

Expect late goals- Norwich have scored eight times in injury time this season, whilst Barnsley have let in 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of games- both the highest in the division.

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 9

Norwich Wins: 16

Draws: 12

Barnsley Goals: 37

Norwich Goals: 54

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 6

Norwich Wins: 6

Draws: 5

Barnsley Goals: 22

Norwich Goals: 24