Barnsley 2 1 Huddersfield Town

Barnsley v Huddersfield Town
Saturday 31st August 2013 at 3pm, Oakwell

"We have to be a little bit stronger under pressure…They changed shape to match us and we have to be better because Barnsley will do something similar on Saturday."
Mark Robins comments after the Charlton Capital One cup match, 27th August 2013.

Full name: Barnsley Football Club
Nickname(s): The Tykes, The Reds
Founded: 1887
Ground: Oakwell (capacity 23,009)
Manager: David Flitcroft


The Manager

David Flitcroft, born in Bolton, he has played for a number of Lancashire clubs, including Preston North End, Chester, Bury and Rochdale. His playing position was as a midfielder.

After retiring as a player, David Flitcroft joined the coaching staff at Rochdale. On 1 June 2011, Flitcroft was appointed assistant manager at Barnsley after following manager Keith Hill to Oakwell. He was made caretaker manager of Barnsley after Hill was sacked during the 2012–13 season. After two wins in three games as caretaker manager, Flitcroft was appointed to the position. Flitcroft guided Barnsley to Championship safety on the final game of the 2012/2013 season, following an impressive set of results in 2013 and a 2–2 away draw at Huddersfield Town. He signed a rolling contract on 9 May 2013 to keep him at the club, alongside assistants Martin Scott and Micky Mellon.

Many will recall the 'passing of time' for the final three minutes of the season against Barnsley, where a draw was suitable for both clubs. How both teams got away with not playing those final moments, I will never know, a very lenient referee!

Managerial statistics

Barnsley, 29 December 2012 to present, won 12, drawn 9 and lost 11, giving a win ratio of 37.50%. Currently, Mark Robins, with Huddersfield, from 14 February 2013 to present, won 10, drawn 4 and lost 8, giving a win ratio of 45.45%.


The Opposition

Barnsley were founded in 1887 under the name of Barnsley St. Peter's, by a clergyman, Tiverton Preedy; hence the name. Barnsley have spent more seasons in the second tier of English football than any other club in history. They have produced some notable talents over the years who have gone on to be successful at other clubs. One example is Tommy Taylor, who was a prolific goalscorer for Barnsley in the early 1950s and went on to win two league titles with Manchester United (as well as scoring 16 times in 19 England internationals) before losing his life in the Munich air disaster. Taylor's move to Manchester United was for a then world-record fee of £29,999.

In 1910 the club reached the FA Cup final, where they lost out to Newcastle in a replay match. However, they reached the 1912 FA Cup Final, where they defeated West Brom 1–0, in a replay, to win the trophy for the first and only time in their history.

In the season of 1919-20, after the war years, a significant change was made to the First Division, it was to be increased from twenty, to twenty two teams. So, Spurs were relegated, having finished bottom the previous season. Chelsea retained their status, despite finishing second bottom and so, a place was to be filled. Having finished the previous season's Second Division in third place (1914–15), Barnsley were full of expectancy at gaining First Division status for the first time, but the Football League instead chose to call a ballot of the clubs. Henry Norris, the then Arsenal Chairman, had recently moved Woolwich Arsenal north of the River Thames to Highbury, and needed First Division Football to attract fans to their new home. He was later to admit some underhand dealings, allegedly including the bribing of some member clubs to vote for Arsenal's inclusion. They duly won the vote and Barnsley were consigned to the second tier of English Football for another EIGHT decades.

Over the past decade Barnsley have experienced a number of highs and lows as a football club. At the end of the 1996–97 season, Barnsley reached the top tier of English football for the first time in their history. However, they were relegated the following season despite their efforts. They are one of few clubs to have completed only one season overall in the top flight (the others are Glossop, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town and Carlisle United in the old First Division era and Swindon Town in the Premier League era).

In the following years Barnsley were not as successful, with relegation to Division Two and administration both threatening the existence of the club. Barnsley suffered greatly due to the ITV Digital crisis, resulting in the club going into administration in 2002. A late purchase by Barnsley's then Mayor, Peter Doyle, saved the club from folding. Doyle has since left the club, leaving Gordon Shepherd and local businessman Patrick Cryne in control. There has also been a rapid turnover of managers, with no fewer than ten managers in the same number of years.

Barnsley had the distinction of playing in the last play-off final at Wembley before the stadium was closed for redevelopment and in 2006 won in a play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where they beat Swansea City 4–3 on penalties (2–2 after extra-time) to earn promotion to the Championship. The manager at this time was Andy Ritchie, who was in his first season in charge after replacing Paul Hart.

The team struggled in their first season back in the Championship. In November 2006, with Barnsley in the relegation zone, Ritchie was sacked in favour of Simon Davey. Davey managed to steer the team away from relegation in the second half of the season, and eventually finishing in 20th. The following season, a much-changed Barnsley side managed an historic FA Cup run, beating Premier League giants Liverpool 2–1 at Anfield and defending champions Chelsea 1–0 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1912, where they narrowly lost out 1–0 to fellow Championship side Cardiff City at Wembley.

Barnsley narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship that season, and after a disappointing start to the 2009–10 season Simon Davey was sacked in favour of former Rotherham United boss Mark Robins.

In May 2011, after a difficult 2010/11 season, Mark Robins resigned as manager due to a dispute over the budget for the following season. He was replaced by Rochdale manager Keith Hill and his assistant David Flitcroft. Barnsley ended the 2011–12 season as one of only two football clubs to turn a profit in the Football Championship, ironically they stayed up due to Portsmouth FC having a ten point deduction for going into administration. The club's form failed to improve the following season, and Keith Hill was sacked as manager shortly before the turn of the year. David Flitcroft took over initially as caretaker manager, and after an improved run of results (combined with Sean O'Driscoll and Terry Butcher turning down the chance to manage the club) earned the job on a permanent basis.

Recent Form

Barnsley LLDL and Huddersfield LDWW

Barnsley have yet to win a Championship match so far this season and have conceded twelve goals in their first four league outings. Currently, in the league, Barnsley have nestled the ball in the back of the net four times against all of their opponents. Top scorer is O'Grady, with two goals in all competitions. Unfortunately, Barnsley prop up the Championship table in 24th position. Hopefully, they will rectify their mistakes and begin climbing the league table, I have a soft spot for the Tykes!

Huddersfield are enjoying a good run of form and are scoring goals. Seven in four league matches and Smithies has only picked the ball out from the net three times. Top scorer is Vaughan, with seven goals in all competitions. Huddersfield are one place from a play off position and are in seventh spot.


Prediction

This match could well be a cracker, it is a local derby and they have a tendency to be special. Yes, Barnsley are leaking goals, but Town gave two goals away to Charlton on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup. However, I will go by my usual prediction prior to a match and say…'I've got a great feeling about this one, two nil to Town!'