Gulf in Barnsley form must close starting with Rotherham United visit
Gulf in Barnsley form must close starting with Rotherham United visit
As Barnsley return to League One action under the Oakwell lights on Friday evening with a South Yorkshire derby against Rotherham United, manager Darrell Clarke has one major issue to resolve. How to duplicate his club’s great away form at Oakwell.
The Tykes currently sit top of the divisions away form league table amassing 15 points on the road with five victories and two defeats from their seven away games played so far this season. Compare that to their home form and you see the gulf in results.
Barnsley sit 19th in the division’s home form table having won just once, lost once and drawn four games totalling just seven points at Oakwell this season.
This is nothing new from the Tykes as last season under manager Neill Collins, Barnsley struggled at home yet broke club records with their away form. By Easter last season, Barnsley equalled their record for most away wins, 12 and set a club record of most away points amassed, 42. Despite the impressive away form during the 2023/24 season, Barnsley only just made a play-off spot in the final game of the season. Ultimately, the Tykes were beaten at the semi-final stage narrowly losing out to Bolton Wanderers over two legs.
Dropped points at home a Barnsley concern
Where the real damage has been done at Oakwell this season is contained within the four draws with Barnsley dropping four points from a winning position in two games and having to rely on late equalisers in the other two games which they almost threw away.
This trend began with the visit of Northampton in late August. After a successful first half going into a two goal lead, Barnsley failed to see the game out and conceded twice within the last 20 minutes of the game to draw a game they had control of.
When newly promoted Stockport County arrived in town in front of the Sky cameras, Barnsley raced into an early lead after a storming start to the game. However, another example of poor game management with the Tykes sitting deeper as the game went on seemingly protecting a one goal lead, only allowed the visitors to dominate and create chances. As with most games this season, the Barnsley defence failed to keep a clean sheet and a Louie Barry equaliser in the 91st minute meant another two points went by the wayside for Clarke`s side.
A few days later, Barnsley faced Wycombe Wanderers at Oakwell and in an evenly matched game, the Tykes had to rely on an 89th minute equaliser by defender Marc Roberts to come away with a point in a 2-2 draw.
An even more eventful ending game took place in South Yorkshire under the lights when Charlton Athletic visited with a poor away record. With just two away wins from six games on their travels, the Addicks should have been put to the sword. For large periods of the game, Barnsley controlled the game but couldn’t find a second goal to add to Davis Keillor-Dunn`s opener in the first half.
Barnsley were punished when ex-red Luke Berry scored twice to put the Londoners within moments of all three points. Despite having more than double the shots on goal to the visitors, Barnsley had once again failed to put a team to the sword on home soil. A 95th minute goal from Max Watters slightly spared the Tykes blushes on the night.
Random stat – #barnsleyfc haven't conceded in the first half away in the league yet this season. 7-0 aggregate at half-time in their seven away games.
— Doug O'Kane (@dougokane88) November 6, 2024
November gives Barnsley a chance to rectify poor home form
During November, Barnsley visit Cambridge but welcome Rotherham, Wigan and Reading to Oakwell giving Darrell Clarke`s team an opportunity to put things right at home.
The omens are good for Barnsley when their local rivals Rotherham visit. The Millers last victory at Oakwell was back in August 1970 in a 1-0 League Cup victory. In the 14 games in all competitions since 1970, Barnsley have won eight with the spoils being shared in the other six.
Wigan Athletic visit Oakwell having only lost once there in an FA Cup game in 1954. Since then, the Lancashire club have won four times and drawn on the other four occasions, most recently a 1-1 draw in a League One fixture in January 2024. Wigan sit in 19th place in League One and this fixture will be marked as a “must win” for the Tykes.
The final game of November sees the visit of Reading, who currently sit one place behind Barnsley on the same points. The last five fixtures between the two sides at Oakwell have all ended in a draw. The Tykes will hope that they can finish November on a flourish with a home victory before embarking on a tricky December.
Darrell Clarke and his Barnsley team must find a way of duplicating their away form at home if they want to be serious promotion candidates.
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