On Saturday, Northampton Town are set to host an in-form, promotion-chasing Barnsley at Sixfields Stadium in League One.
Both sides come into the clash unbeaten in 2025 so far, though the visitors have won four in a row ahead of this weekend.
Match preview
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Kevin Nolan's Northampton are currently 18th in League One, having earned 26 points from their 25 matches this term.
The Cobblers boss took over just before Christmas after former manager Jon Brady resigned in early December, and has overseen a stretch of four games that includes one win, two draws and one loss.
Those four results are mixed, but they represent a marked improvement over the six games prior that featured five losses and just one victory.
Last time out, Nolan's side beat bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion 1-0 on the road, though it took a late, deflected strike from Sam Hoskins to secure all three points.
That result took Northampton to three games unbeaten - the first such run for the Cobblers since October - and means that the club are now six points above Crawley Town in the relegation zone.
On Saturday, the hosts will be looking to build more confidence and security in their status as a League One team by proving their capability against one of the division's best sides, though given their opponents' form, avoiding defeat will be a major challenge.
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Meanwhile, Darrell Clarke's Barnsley are fifth in the table with 42 points from their 25 third-tier games this season.
In the hunt for promotion, the Tykes are in a strong position within the playoff spots - four points above seventh-placed Stockport County.
Last time out, Barnsley beat relegation-threatened Crawley 3-0, following on from another victory against title-chasing Wrexham on New Year's Day.
Those two results came as part of a run of four wins in a row and five from Clarke's side's last six matches, an exceptional spell of form that exists in stark contrast to their six-game winless streak between mid-November and early December.
This weekend, Barnsley will face another side low down in the table, though the fact that the Tykes have kept just one clean sheet from their last eight matches means that their forwards will likely need to have their shooting boots on if they are to record a fifth straight win.
Team News
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Northampton boss Nolan is set to be without left-flank regular Nesta Guinness-Walker once again, so expect Mitchell Pinnock to be shifted over to the left and Liam Shaw to start in midfield.
Similarly, attacking midfielder Cameron McGeehan will not be available, and Samy Chouchane should assume his place in the XI this weekend.
As for Barnsley, Clarke's side were bolstered by the return of defenders Marc Roberts and Josh Earl last time out, so expect the duo to start at the back alongside Mael de Gevigney.
Elsewhere, Clarke has mentioned that the Tykes have emerged from the festive period relatively unscathed, though there is a bout of illness in the camp that could impact the players on Saturday.
Barnsley have also signed the versatile Neil Farrugia from Shamrock Rovers in the January transfer window, and he could feature on the bench.
On the other hand, loanee Matty Craig returned to parent club Tottenham Hotspur and was sent on loan to Mansfield Town.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; McGowan, Willis, Eyoma; Odimayo, Shaw, Hondermarck, Pinnock; Chouchane, Eaves, Hoskins
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Nwakali, Russell, Gent; Watters, Keillor-Dunn
We say: Northampton Town 1-3 Barnsley
Both sides are on unbeaten runs at the moment, though Barnsley have faced tougher opposition and won four consecutive matches, while Northampton have merely avoided defeat.
Given the fact that the Tykes have kept just one clean sheet from their last eight matches, the Cobblers could score on Saturday, but it is still hard to picture anything other than a win for Clarke's team in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
