Two sides with contrasting League One ambitions this season will face off this weekend when Fleetwood Town take on Barnsley at Highbury Stadium on Saturday evening.
The hosts are in the midst of the relegation scrap, currently in 23rd place with 26 points after 32 matches, while the visitors are fourth in the league standings with 57 points after 31 matches.
Match preview
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After ending last season comfortably in mid-table, Fleetwood Town would have been aiming to break into the top half this term, but they got off to the worst possible start in 2023-24, failing to win any of their first seven league games, which led to the axing of Scott Brown at the start of September.
Lee Johnson was the man entrusted to turn the Cod Army's fortunes around, and he made a promising start to his tenure in Lancashire, picking up seven points from his first four games.
However, after managing just two wins in his next 13, the club opted to part ways with the ex-Hibernian boss just 11 matches after his arrival with Charlie Adam appointed as his successor.
Adam came under immediate pressure as he failed to win any of his first eight matches in charge (W0 D2 L6), but will be feeling a little more secure in his position now after securing a point against Reading in midweek, which takes his side's tally to eight points in their last five games (W2 D2 L1).
Still, despite the slight uptick in form over the last month, the job is far from over for Adam and co, who are still a full six points behind Charlton Athletic, who are the first side above the dotted line heading into this weekend's fixtures.
Historically, the hosts have struggled in this encounter as the reverse fixture between these sides ended in a 2-2 draw last October and marked the first point that Fleetwood have earned against this opponent in their last six meetings dating all the way back to 2015.
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Meanwhile, after missing out on promotion in the playoffs last season, Barnsley are once again setting themselves up for another postseason battle, currently four points clear of Stevenage, who are the first side outside the top six places.
The Tykes snatched a 1-1 draw in midweek against Shrewsbury Town when Herbie Kane's 91st-minute spot-kick cancelled out an early own-goal from Nicolas Cadden to earn his side what could prove to be an important point on the road.
Neill Collins's side have made something of a habit of leaving it late this season, as that stoppage-time leveller was the 16th goal they have scored in the final 15 minutes of league matches this term, which is the most of any side in the division.
Interestingly, that stat is in complete contrast to their record in the first 15 minutes of games this season, where they have conceded 10 goals to date - the out-and-out worst tally of any side in the league.
Nevertheless, the visitors will be confident heading into this fixture, not only due to their excellent record against this opponent but also owing to the fact that they are unbeaten in their last six away games, including three wins and three draws.
Team News
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Fleetwood will be able to welcome back Mohammed Lawal for this match after the midfielder was forced to sit out their midweek encounter with Reading after being sent off against Lincoln City last weekend.
Sheffield United loanee Harry Boyes made his first start since joining the club at the start of January in place of Lawal last time out and will be hoping to make the starting 11 for a second match in succession.
Barnsley will see the return of Luca Connell on Saturday following his one-match suspension for the red card he was shown in the side's 2-1 comeback win over Leyton Orient last weekend.
Josh Benson, Robbie Cundy, Matty Wolfe and Fabio Jalo all missed the Tykes' midweek trip to New Meadow due to injury and are flagged as doubts heading into this weekend's encounter as well.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Sarpong-Wiredu, Heneghan, Campbell; Rooney, Johnston, Kilkenny, Lawal, Boyes; Stockley, Omochere
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Williams, De Gevigney, Earl; Connell; Cotter, Cadden, Phillips, Kane; McAtee, Cole
We say: Fleetwood Town 1-2 Barnsley
While Fleetwood have shown signs of improvement lately, they have struggled against the better teams in the league and lost to each of the top three sides in the last two months. Barnsley have a very good record in this fixture, and we feel they will extend their unbeaten run against this opponent with another win in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
