Barnsley – Oxford United

Barnsley will host Oxford United at Oakwell in what promises to be a stark contrast of ambitions, with the home side languishing in 22nd place on eight points from ten games while the visitors sit comfortably in seventh with eighteen. Barnsley’s modest return of ten goals against nineteen conceded highlights the defensive frailties that have seen them suffer six defeats, whereas Oxford’s balanced record of eighteen scored and ten let in reflects a side that has only been beaten once. The gap in form is evident – Barnsley have managed just two wins and two draws, while Oxford have already secured five victories and three stalemates. If the Owls hope to climb out of the relegation zone, they will need to tighten up at the back and find a way to match Oxford’s more prolific attack.