In what is a game with huge implications on both the play-offs as well as automatic promotion, Barnsley host Derby County in what can now be considered a six-pointer.
Derby go into the clash in second, joint on points with Bolton Wanderers and six points off of table-toppers Portsmouth. With four wins and a draw from their last five matches, they are very much a team going in the right direction, however do a face perhaps their toughest recent test, on the road at Oakwell.
Barnsley themselves are unbeaten in their last four matches, and although two of those have been draws, they’ve managed to climb into the top four at the expense of Peterborough United. During that spell they would pick up a win against a much-improved Leyton Orient and would hold Bolton to a draw away from home.
With a game in hand as well as just a six pint deficit to Derby the game came has become somewhat of a six-pointer which could see the host close the gap to just three points with a win.
Both teams will be targeting automatic promotion at this point, yet if they miss out, promotion via the play-offs is still a realistic possibility. If they do miss out on automatic promotion, this may well not be the last time we see the two teams face off this season.
Here’s how two of The Real EFL writing team see it going…
“It’s the game of the week in League One which sees two of the top four lock horns. The real winners will be the rest of the top six who know that one team is guaranteed to drop points.
I do think it will only be one of the teams dropping points, that being Barnsley. Although they are unbeaten in four, their home form is not at all convincing and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Derby exploit some defensive weaknesses. That being said it will still be a close game.
A win for Derby probably puts Barnsley out of the automatic promotion race, yet would send a clear message to Bolton about their promotion credentials. The tile hunt is still not over, especially if Portsmouth slip up at the weekend, and three points here could push them right until the final day of the season.”
Barnsley 1-2 Derby County
“This game is one that the rest of the top six will be watching very closely. Derby sitting just inside the automatic promotion places, albeit only on goal difference, would immediately put them as favourites. If they win this game against top opposition, their promotion credentials could be improved tenfold.
With only one loss since New Year’s Day, they come into this off the back of some mightily impressive form. Furthermore, their away form is one of the best in the league and Barnsley’s home form has not been as strong as they’d have hoped. If they can win this though, they move within three points of their opposition and could quickly find themselves in a race for the top two.
However, with the strength of the visitors, and Barnsley’s inconsistent form throughout the season, I struggle to see them picking up a victory here.”
Barnsley 1-2 Derby County
Senior Editor