Barnsley hope to continue their good festive form

Barnsley head to second placed Peterborough tonight hoping to continue their promising festive period form. 

After finally getting the monkey off their back of failing to beat any side in the top 6 when the Reds came out 2-1 winners at home to Stevenage the day before Christmas Eve, Barnsley then played some of their best football of the season in the first 45 minutes at Vale Park on Boxing Day going in at half time three goals to the good. Despite a poor second half, Barnsley held on for their first “double” over Vale since the 1996/97 season. 

On New Year’s Day, the Reds host a Wigan side hovering just above the relegation zone. 

Tonight is a true acid test of where Neill Collins`s side are right now. This will be a clash of two form sides. The Reds have only lost two league games (Blackpool home & Derby away) since the end of September. 24 points won on the road from 11 games should give the Posh something to think about. In fact, Barnsley are unbeaten in their last three trips to London Road, winning twice and drawing once. 

However, Peterborough are top scorers in League One with 45 goals scored and have the third meanest defence having conceded only 23 times in 23 games. 

With one defeat in their last 17 games and only one home defeat all season (to Derby) winning 12 and drawing four, The Posh will be full of confidence going into the game. 

An away victory would take the Reds within a point behind Posh with a game in hand too. If Barnsley can bring even a point back to Oakwell from tonight’s game, that would set them up nicely for the home game against struggling Wigan. In the playoff mix going into the New Year would be a good place for Collins`s side and represent a decent start to his managerial career in South Yorkshire.