Early Reds Team News
The Reds entertain Stoke City in the Boxing Day clash at Oakwell, without winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce and central midfielder Anderson De Silva. Campbell-Ryce sits out with a one match suspension for his sending off at Bristol City whilst De Silva has returned to his parent club Everton after his loan deal expired on Saturday. This could open the door for Sam Togwell and Rohan Ricketts to return. Grant McCann will also be pushing for a start.
Probable Line-Up:
Heinz Muller
Stephen Foster
Dennis Souza
Lewin Nyatanga
Marciano Van Homoet
Martin Devaney
Brian Howard ©
Sam Togwell
Grant McCann
Istvan Ferenczi
Jon Macken
Head To Head
Barnsley have a somewhat formidable home record against play-off chasing Stoke City having won 18 of the 24 meetings at Oakwell which Stoke returning home with just 4 wins to their credit. Last year's 2-2 draw between the sides ended a run of 8 successive home wins against Stoke for The Reds and they are undefeated against the Potteries at home since, ironically Boxing Day 1986! The two sides will meet for the FOURTH time on Boxing Day. As well as 1986 and 2007 they met in 1996 (Stoke 1-0 Barnsley) and 1995 (Barnsley 3-1 Stoke)
In the last three meetings overall The Reds have gained 5 points off Stoke.
In last season's home meeting, an entertaining game saw the spoils shared despite Stoke being 2-0 up with 17 minutes remaining. Clint Hill and Luke Chadwick had fired Stoke into a 2-0 lead after Barnsley were still adjusting to Championship football. But two goals in the space of six minutes from Tommy Wright and Paul Hayes earned a hard-fought point.
Barnsley:
Subs not used:
Stoke:
Simonsen ,Griffin ,Duberry ,Hill ,Higginbotham ,Chadwick (Whitley ,69 ) ,Russell ,Brammer ,Sweeney (Harper ,69 ) ,Pericard ,Sidibe
Subs not used
Report
In the reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium, Barnsley produced a defensive master class live on SKY. Istvan Ferenczi continued his red hot scoring form by netting with The Reds only shot on target after 43 minutes and then put their bodies on the line in a one-sided second half to hang on for a crucial 1-0 victory.
Stoke:
Simonsen ,Hoefkens ,Fortune ,Higginbotham ,Griffin ,Russell (Rooney ,61 ) ,Diao ,Matteo (Eustace ,23 ) ,Lawrence (Martin ,83 ) ,Hendrie ,Sidibe
Subs not used:
Barnsley:
Colgan ,Austin ,Reid ,Nyatanga ,Heckingbottom ,Devaney ,Togwell ,McCann ,Howard ,Ferenczi ,Rajczi (Reid ,83)
Subs not used
Report
And they did so again this season. But in an even game at the Britannia in September, Barnsley notched their first goal-less draw in 72 league and cup games.
Stoke:
Simonsen ,Wright ,Shawcross ,Craddock ,Dickinson (Zakuani ,53 ) ,Lawrence (Sweeney ,87 ) ,Delap ,Matteo ,Cresswell ,Fuller ,Parkin (Sidibe ,64)
Subs not used:
Barnsley:
Muller ,Kozluk (Nyatanga ,8 ) ,Souza ,Foster ,Werling ,Campbell-Ryce (Devaney ,80 ) ,Anderson De Silva ,Howard ,McCann ,Odejayi ,Ferenczi
Subs not used
Last 6 Barnsley v Stoke Results:
18/9/07 Stoke 0-0 Barnsley (Championship)
26/2/07 Stoke 0-1 Barnsley (Championship)
9/9/06 Barnsley 2-2 Stoke (Championship)
1/11/00 Stoke 3-2 Barnsley (League Cup)
26/12/96 Stoke 1-0 Barnsley (Division One)
10/9/96 Barnsley 3-0 Stoke (Division One)
Overall Record:
Barnsley Wins: 22
Stoke City Wins: 20
Draws: 15
Barnsley Goals: 77
Stoke City Goals: 77
This Season
After finishing 8th in the Championship last season, Tony Pulis' side are now looking capable of breaking into those play-off places after a solid first half of the season where just five defeats from their 23 games has left them sitting pretty in fourth position. They have an enviable away record too having won five and lost just twice. They are currently unbeaten in seven league games and have won five of their last six games, including a 3-1 thumping of then league leaders West Brom at the weekend.
Stoke:
Simonsen ,Wilkinson ,Shawcross ,Cort ,Pugh ,Lawrence ,Eustace ,Delap ,Cresswell ,Sidibe (Dickinson ,84 ) ,Fuller (Parkin ,89)
Subs not used:
Barnsley meanwhile need to put their woeful away record behind them and concentrate on extending their unbeaten run at Oakwell to 11 games. Out of the current top six, The Reds have played two of them at home (Watford and Bristol City) and beaten them both. The 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last time out ended a run of four successive home victories.
Last 6 2007-2008 Results:
Barnsley:
22/12/07 Bristol City 3-2 Barnsley (Championship)
15/12/07 Sheffield United 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)
8/12/07 Barnsley 0-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
4/12/07 Barnsley 1-0 Wolves (Championship)
1/12/07 Ipswich 0-0 Barnsley (Championship)
27/11/07 Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)
W:1 D:2 L:3 F:3 A:5 GD:-2 Points:5
Stoke:
22/12/07 Stoke 3-1 West Brom (Championship)
15/12/07 Blackpool 2-3 Stoke (Championship)
9/12/07 Stoke 0-0 Watford (Championship)
4/12/07 Sheffield United 0-3 Stoke (Championship)
1/12/07 Stoke 2-1 Norwich (Championship)
27/11/07 Stoke 3-1 QPR (Championship)
W:5 D:1 L:0 F:14 A:5 GD:+9 Points:15
Barnsley lie 12th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 31 points from 23 games.
A win could lift them as high as 9th
Stoke City lie 4th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 40 points from 23 games.
A win could lift them as high as 1st.