Preview: Barnsley vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups

Playoff hopefuls Barnsley will host relegation strugglers Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Saturday afternoon looking to consolidate their place inside the top six.

The two teams head into this fixture at opposite ends of the form table, with the Tykes accumulating 22 points from their last eight league matches, in stark contrast to just the solitary point picked up by the Owls in the same period.

Match preview

© Reuters

Barnsley extended their unbeaten league run to 12 matches as they won 3-1 away at Wycombe Wanderers on Wednesday night.

A brace from Daryl Dike and a Cauley Woodrow penalty sealed all three points for the Tykes, moving them above Reading into fifth place, five points clear of Bournemouth who sit just outside the playoffs.

Valerien Ismael has worked wonders with Barnsley since his arrival in October, winning 19 of his 30 Championship matches in charge and steering the club towards a top-six finish.

The Tykes boss will be hoping that top goalscorer Woodrow can regain his form in front of goal heading into the final quarter of the campaign. The 26-year-old, who scored in the 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in December, has 11 goals to his name so far this term but has only found the net twice in his last 11 league games.

Victory for Barnsley on Saturday would see them complete their first league double over the Owls since the 2008-09 campaign under former boss Simon Davey.

© Reuters

Sheffield Wednesday ended a run of seven straight league defeats with a 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night.

However, failing to win once again has seen them slip further into relegation trouble, with the gap to safety now nine points after Birmingham City won against Reading.

Darren Moore could not fault the effort of his players, despite only drawing in midweek and hopes that his side can build on the point gained but with just nine games left to play, time is running out if they are to avoid demotion to the third tier for the first time since 2011-12.

Sheffield Wednesday travel to Oakwell with the worst away record in the division, winning only one of their last 15 league games on the road and losing each of their last five in succession; the last time they lost six consecutive league games away from home was back in February 2011.

The Owls have, however, accumulated 10 points from their last six league visits to Barnsley and claiming another three points on Saturday would provide a massive boost to Moore's men in their quest to survive.

Team News

© Reuters

Barnsley midfielder Alex Mowatt was shown a straight red card in midweek, although Ismael has revealed that the club are to appeal against it.

The Frenchman rarely tinkers too much with his starting lineup but may hand a recall to Toby Sibbick to play in the back three this weekend.

Moore may decide to recall left wing-back Matt Penney to his first XI at the expense of Adam Reach.

Jordan Rhodes, who has scored one and provided one assist in the last two games, is set to keep his place up front with Josh Windass and Kadeem Harris playing either side of him in attack.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Palmer, Kane, Styles; Morris, Woodrow; Dike

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Hutchinson, Lees, Borner; Palmer, Pelupessy, Bannan, Penney; Harris, Rhodes, Windass

We say: Barnsley 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

The last four league meetings between Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell have all ended as 1-1 draws, with the Owls scoring first in each of the last three.

However, the hosts have really found their groove over the last two months, and we expect them to secure a comfortable three points on Saturday.