Introduction
With an international break and the usual mundaneness from the national team, it seems a long time since that Chris Solly drive nestled into the top corner up at Bloomfield Road to secure a 2-0 victory and relieve a few nervous cramps around The Valley faithful. A return back to Floyd Road should herald a kick-start to the next ten games but the home form, which was so strong last season, is falling by the wayside this. Sitting in 21st position in the ‘Home’ league table will be a slight worry for Chris Powell, as will the fact that we are only averaging 0.8 goals per game on our own turf.
Saturday sees the return of the highly successful ‘Football For a Fiver’ initiative and it looks like close to sell out will be achieved before 3pm. Barnsley are likely to bring the most fans they have brought to The Valley in generations and many will be hoping for a good show – not just from Victoria Stanyon.
Line Up
One benefit of having a international break is to be able to rest a recuperate the troops. Unless Preview Towers is mistaken, the only player ‘away’ over the past two weeks was Abdul Rasak and he didn’t get the chance to be involved in the fan riots dominating the game between Senegal and Ivory Coast. Danny Green hobbled off the pitch up in the North West two weeks ago, and Chris Powell would hope to have him and Johnnie Jackson available for selection against the Tykes.
A resolute defence is likely to remain the same as is the majority of the midfield although the decision Chris Powell needs to make is whether or not he sticks to a lone striker supported by Abdul Rasak as per Blackpool or he reverts toa more traditional 4-4-2 bring in Bradley Wright-Phillips to play alongside Ricardo Fuller. With 25,000 plus in the ground, we fully expect Rasak to drop to the bench and last season’s top scorer to replace him.
The Opposition
Barnsley’s away record is as good as our home one – not very. They’re conceding over two goals a game away from their Yorkshire base and although their attack on the road is good – it is skewed by a five goal battering of Birimingham back in September. That was their last win. Martin Cranie makes a return to The Valley on Saturday although it may be Craig Davies up top who we may need to keep an eye – already bagging himself seven (four against Brum) goals this season.
Prediction
We need to pick up our home form and win could place us exactly in mid-table after the weekend’s results yet we need to create and take more chances. We should be getting those opportunities against a team in our ‘mini-league’ and Wright-Phillips needs to get his scoring boots back on, which he will. A comfortable 2-0 win in front of the gathered masses.
Come on you reds!
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Comments
Morro + Davies
SCP doesn't tend to like messing around with winning teams so I reckon he'll stick with the Blackpool team and formation, maybe with JJ coming in for Hollands if fit.
tight match one goal in it not sure who to tho
Good bet for first scorer if yes!
I just hope firstly that we don't lose but secondly we really need to beat teams like Barnsley on our own patch if we are to stay up.
I'm hopefully bring "the lucky charm" with me and he has a 100% winning record at The Valley when he comes.
What price f/g i hear you asking 50/1 with Bet Victor
Solly Cort Morrison Evina
Wilson Hollands Stephens Kerker
Razak
Fuller
Subs
Button
Dervite
Pritchard
Wright-philips
Jackson
Hulse
Green
Boring 1 - 0
Go one up after looking good only to peter out and concede half way through the second half
Can't wait to get back to the Valley i love supporting Charlton