Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites against Wigan Athletic heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell.
The Tykes, 14 places higher than their opponents in the standings, are undefeated in five league fixtures and aim to extend that run against a side without maximum points since the start of October.
Match preview
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When Barnsley were twice beaten 2-0 by Huddersfield Town on October 5 and 8, there was a sense that Darrell Clarke's men could spiral into a worse run of results.
Those losses extended the club's winless run to three in League One (two draws, one defeat) and four in all competitions (two draws, two defeats), leaving them looking down rather than up in the table entering last month's international break.
Since that hiatus, the South Yorkshire club have experienced a turnaround, highlighted by avoiding a loss in their recent five league fixtures, claiming maximum points in three and playing out two stalemates.
The ongoing run also includes consecutive clean sheets in 2-0 wins against Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United, ending the club's eight-match wait for a shutout and going back-to-back league games without conceding for the first time since October 2023 when the Reds beat Cambridge United (2-0) and Exeter City (2-0).
The Tykes' unbeaten run places them in the division's playoff positions in fifth, level with Lincoln on 26 points and two clear of Mansfield in seventh.
Although Clarke's men might drop out of the coveted places if they fail to win, the Reds could rise as high as third if Wrexham (28 points) and Stockport (27) drop points in round 17.
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Barnsley are favourites to outwit this weekend's visitors, whose results suggest Saturday's outcome could be a walk in the park for the South Yorkshire hosts.
Wigan's last league success was a 3-0 triumph at home to Peterborough United at the start of last month, but the next five have seen a downturn in results.
The Latics were not in sparkling form when they notched that win on October 1, as evidenced by that victory ending a three-game run of stalemates and the next result ending in a tie.
However, Shaun Maloney's biggest worry at the time was getting his players firing in attack, seeing as they secured six clean sheets on the trot — two wins (4-0 at Bristol Rovers and 3-0 against Peterborough) and four goalless matches against Lincoln City, Stevenage, Exeter City and Stockport County.
Losing three of the next four in the league means the seemingly dependable rearguard is creaking, and the attack continues to misfire, posing problems for the Greater Manchester outfit, who sit 19th in League One, two places and a point outside the bottom four.
Defeat for Wigan at Barnsley could see the Latics slide into the relegation places, even if that outcome is contingent on Crawley Town defeating Rotherham on Saturday.
Team News
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Barnsley captain Luca Connell should return to the XI following his suspension for picking up five yellow cards.
However, Fabio Jalo is reported to be an injury doubt, and the 19-year-old will be assessed before this weekend.
Former Latics man Stephen Humphrys has scored in consecutive games for the hosts, taking him to four league goals for his new side, and he aims to add to that tally by punishing old friends.
Due to different problems, Wigan could be without Jensen Weir (ankle), Luke Chambers (back) and Callum McManaman (muscle).
Thelo Aasgaard (three goals) and Joe Hugill (two) are Maloney's leading goalscorers entering this weekend's visit to Oakwell, and the Latics will look to the pair to take responsibility for the struggling away side.
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O'Keeffe, Humphrys, Phillips, Russell, Gent; Watters, Keillor-Dunn
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; Aasgaard, Adeeko, Francois; Rankine, Hugill, Thomas
We say: Barnsley 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Although Barnsley are clear favourites, the hosts drawing three of their last four matches in South Yorkshire and Wigan playing out three draws in four recent road games suggest a close encounter at Oakwell.
We back the Tykes to record their third league win on home turf, thus extending their five-match unbeaten run in this fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
