Well its back! The big South Yorkshire derby between The Tykes and The Owls after a year off!!!
Nick Colgan will return in goal for calamity Vito Mannone after serving a one-match suspension.
Paul Reid could also return to the side after injury which would mean Bobby Hassell moving to right back and Neil Austin missing out. (Bad move in my opinion as Hassell is excelling at centre back)
Despite scoring his 3rd goal in 3 games for the Reserves Reds boss Andy Ritchie still believes Danny Nardiello is a few weeks of making a return to the first team squad. Young Nathan Joynes could be a shock inclusion on the bench after scoring FOUR goals in the Reserves 6-4 victory over Leeds on Wednesday.
Probable Line-Up:
Nick Colgan
Bobby Hassell
Paul Reid ©
Antony Kay
Paul Heckingbottom
Martin Devaney
Brian Howard
Sam Togwell
Michael McIndoe
Paul Hayes
Marc Richards.
Barnsley are going to have to improve on an awful recent record at Hillsborough if they are to claim 3 points off the Championship's current rock bottom side. The Reds have lost the last NINE encounters at Hillsborough!!!!! The last time they came away with anything less than a defeat was a 1-0 win back in 1983!!!!
The last meeting at Hillsborough was on 17th October 2004 with the Owls claiming a 1-0 victory through an Adam Proudlock goal in the 24th minute
BARNSLEY: Turnbull, T. Williams, Vaughan, Burns, Chopra, Conlon, McPhail, Austin, Kay (Reid 27), Shuker (Nardiello 78), R. Williams (Boulding 66).
Subs: Colgan, Wroe
The Owls went 11th after that game whilst The Reds slumped in 16th.
In the return fixture at Oakwell on 5th February 2005 both teams limped to a 0-0 draw in front of a massive 19,659 fans!
BARNSLEY: Turnbull, Williams, Reid, Carbon, Burns, Chopra, McPhail (Wroe 48), Boulding, Austin, Kay, Shuker.
Subs: Flinders, Tonge, Baker, Nardiello.
Match Report:
Sheffield Wednesday finished the season in 5th place in League One and won promotion to the Championship via the Play-Offs, a feat Barnsley matched the following season. In 2004-2005 however The Reds limped into 13th place with Paul Hart sacked in March and replaced by the now legend Andy Ritchie!
Sheffield Wednesday have got a pretty appalling home record this season and are still searching for their first win in front of their own fans. Let's hope Saturday doesn't provide it!
Barnsley meanwhile have a pretty average away record this term. They won their first two away matches in the Championship - against Hull City and Colchester- but have unfortunately lost the next 3.
In terms of an overall start to the season, a campaign which promised a lot for Paul Sturrock's men, it hasn't exactly started too good.
The Owls sit bottom of the Championship with just one win- 2-1 at Plymouth Argyle, The Reds opponents on Tuesday night- and 7 points from their first 10 games. Last time out they lost 1-0 at Sunderland.
The Reds, after making an impressive start to life in the Championship have started to slip down the table and lie 18th, just 2 points off the drop zone. They have lost 3 on the bounce in all competitions and were defeated 2-1 at home to Luton last weekend after Mannone's error deep into stoppage time robbed The Reds of a point. One positive point though is that even if The Owls do triumph they will still remain behind The Reds.
Barnsley could go as high as 14th with victory whilst The Owls could lift themselves to 19th.
Last 6 Sheffield Wednesday v Barnsley results:
5/2/05 Barnsley 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday (League One)
17/10/04 Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley (League One)
13/3/04 Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Barnsley (Division Two)
13/12/03 Barnsley 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Division Two)
12/11/03 Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley (LDV Vans Trophy)
2/12/02 Barnsley 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Division One)
Overall Record:
Sheffield Wednesday Wins: 27
Barnsley Wins: 19
Draws: 10
Sheffield Wednesday Goals: 86
Barnsley Goals: 71
Last 6 2006-2007 Results:
Sheffield Wednesday:
30/9/06 Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
23/9/06 Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Derby County (Championship)
15/9/06 Hull City 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
12/9/06 Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Stoke City (Championship)
9/9/06 Southend 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
27/8/06 Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Leeds United (Championship)
W:0 D:2 L:4 F:3 A:7 GD:-4 Points:2
Barnsley:
30/9/06 Barnsley 1-2 Luton (Championship)
22/9/06 Preston 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)
19/9/06 Barnsley 1-2 MK Dons (League Cup)
16/9/06 Barnsley 1-0 Wolves (Championship)
12/9/06 Burnley 4-2 Barnsley (Championship)
9/9/06 Barnsley 2-2 Stoke (Championship)
W:1 D:1 L:4 F:7 A:11 GD:-4 Points:4
Sheffield Wednesday currently lie 24th in the Coca Cola Championship with 7 points from 10 games, 4 points below Barnsley who lie 18th with 11 points from 10 games.