After being eliminated from the FA Cup, relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers are set to host in-form, promotion-chasing Barnsley at Memorial Stadium on Saturday in League One.
The visitors beat struggling Crawley Town 3-0 last time out, and will be looking to repeat that result to make it five wins on the bounce this weekend.
Match preview
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Inigo Calderon's Rovers are currently 20th in League One, though they are five points above Crawley and seven ahead of both Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United after winning a relegation 'six-pointer' against the U's on January 4.
In that match, Luke Thomas nodded in a decisive header and goalkeeper Joshua Griffiths made six saves to earn the Gas their first win under Calderon, and their first overall since November.
This weekend's hosts have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions, and have lost four of their last five, including a 3-0 loss against Premier League Ipswich Town in the FA Cup last Sunday.
Most concerning for Calderon will be the fact that Rovers have conceded 17 goals and scored just five in their eight most recent league fixtures, though it is notable that they have netted three in their last two matches, including a game in which they scored twice against Leyton Orient, League One's most in-form team.
Considering that the Gas only registered two goals in the prior six league matches, the boss – who took over just after Christmas – may be beginning to see his team improve under his guidance.
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Meanwhile, Darrell Clarke's Barnsley are fifth in the table, and having won five of their last six matches, are the second most in-form team in the division.
Over those games, the Tykes notched 12 times to take their tally to 39 goals for the season in League One, a total that is only bettered by high-flying Wycombe Wanderers, top-of-the-table Birmingham City, and entertainers Peterborough United.
The only game that Barnsley did not win in their last six was a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Orient, who have dragged themselves from near the relegation zone to contending for promotion after losing just once in their last 16 matches, a stretch that includes 13 wins and just two draws across all competitions.
This weekend, Clarke's side will be up against an opponent fighting for their status as a third-tier team, and should feel confident of securing all three points, especially given they have beaten the likes of Wrexham and Bolton Wanderers in recent weeks.
Additionally, Barnsley boast one of the best away records in the country this season, having registered eight wins from their 13 games on the road this campaign, and though they were unable to make it nine last week due to a frozen pitch, they will be keen to pick up another victory on Saturday.
Team News
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The Gas' boss Calderon stated that his side are set to be without Kamil Conteh once again, and the midfielder is yet to play under the new manager following a knee injury he picked up on Boxing Day.
Calderon also mentioned that Promise Omochere would be the only other absentee on Saturday, so expect Chris Martin to start up top, supported by Scott Sinclair and Luke Thomas from wide areas.
However, right-back Jack Hunt could make the squad for the first time in two months this weekend, though the boss has said that he is not ready to start, so Joel Senior – who has been on the bench recently with fitness issues of his own – could come into the lineup until he is available.
As for Barnsley, Neil Farrugia is yet to make an appearance in a matchday squad since signing from Shamrock Rovers earlier this month, and he could make the bench for the first time against the Gas.
Elsewhere, midfielder Adam Phillips, who is rumoured to be of interest to Championship clubs Swansea City and Preston North End, is likely to start alongside Kelechi Nwakali and Jon Russell in the centre of the park.
Former Rangers and Chesterfield forward Andy Dallas has also returned to the Tykes after his loan spell at Barrow was cut short, though he is unlikely to be part of Clarke's first-team plans going forward.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Senior, Wilson, Taylor, Sousa; Lindsay, Ward; Thomas, Sotiriou, Sinclair; Martin
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Gevigney, Pines, Earl; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Nwakali, Russell, Gent; Watters, Keillor-Dunn
We say: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Barnsley
These two teams are in contrasting form at the moment, and all of the momentum seems to be with Barnsley ahead of this weekend.
Additionally, the Tykes' excellent away record and exceptional goalscoring prowess makes it difficult to picture anything other than a fifth consecutive victory for the visitors on Saturday, so expect Clarke's side to keep up their push for promotion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
