High-scoring Peterborough United are set to host promotion hopefuls Barnsley at Weston Homes Stadium on Sunday in League One.
The Posh come into this weekend's clash in poor form having lost their last two games, while the Tykes will have gained some confidence from their comeback win over rivals Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day.
Match preview
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Darren Ferguson's Peterborough are currently 17th in League One, having picked up 24 points from their 21 games so far.
These numbers place the Posh just five points above Crawley Town in the relegation zone, a position that stands in stark contrast to their exceptional tally of 38 goals scored this season, the second most of any team in the division.
However, Ferguson's side have also conceded a proportional 40 goals, and only 23rd-placed Shrewsbury Town – who moved off the bottom of the table on Boxing Day – have conceded more, with 41.
In fact, Peterborough have not kept a single clean sheet in League One this campaign, and given that top scorer Kwame Poku is out until March, Sunday's hosts will need to tighten up at the back if they are to avoid slipping further down the table.
The Posh have also tasted defeat in six of their last eight league games, including a 3-0 loss against Mansfield Town last time out.
Notably, the only two matches that Peterborough did not lose in those eight matches were both against teams in the relegation places – a 4-3 win over Crawley Town on December 14 and a 6-1 thrashing of Cambridge United on November 9.
This weekend, Ferguson's side will be up against a team that are pushing for promotion this season, and it will be a major challenge for them to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
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Meanwhile, Darrell Clarke's Barnsley are seventh in League One, and are one point behind Reading in the playoff spots with 33 points from their 22 games to date.
Like their hosts, the visitors are not in the strongest form, though theirs has been more mixed than poor given they have won two of their last five league matches.
As part of this inconsistency, Barnsley have a huge disparity in their home and away results this season, and have registered seven away wins but just two at home.
Their last two games help to highlight this contrast, as the Tykes showed great determination to come from behind to beat Bolton 2-1 on the road last time out yet were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at home by Leyton Orient on December 21.
One negative trait that Clarke's side share with their hosts is their defensive weakness, something that is clear to see when considering that they last kept a league clean sheet in their 2-0 win over Rotherham United in early November.
On the other hand, Barnsley have scored 31 goals this term, a number only bettered by the Posh outside of the top six, and given their opponents' frailty at the back, that offensive prowess could earn them three points on Sunday.
Team News
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Peterborough will be without teenage centre-back George Nevett after he picked up a red card against Mansfield Town on Boxing Day, and Emmanuel Fernandez should line up alongside Jadel Katongo at the heart of defence on Sunday.
Elsewhere, the Posh continue to be without top scorer Kwame Poku, who picked up a major hamstring injury against Burton Albion earlier this month.
In his absence, expect Ricky-Jade Jones to be supported in the forward line by Malik Mothersille and Cian Hayes.
As for Barnsley, midfielder Adam Phillips missed his side's games against Exeter City and Orient earlier this month through suspension and the need for emergency dental work respectively, but he did score on his return to the XI against Bolton.
This weekend, he is likely to be paired in the middle of the park with Luca Connell, who came back from illness last time out.
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Bilokapic; Dornelly, Fernandez, Katongo, Mills; De Havilland, Collins; Hayes, Randall, Mothersille; Jones
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Gevigney, Pines, McCarthy; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Connell, Russell, Gent; Watters, Keillor-Dunn
We say: Peterborough United 1-2 Barnsley
Both sides have proven themselves to be strong offensively and weak in defence, so it is unlikely that either side will keep a clean sheet this weekend.
However, Peterborough's defensive record is particularly shocking, and given that Barnsley have picked up most of their points on the road this season, the visitors will be confident of securing all three points on Sunday.
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