This Week's Opposition: Barnsley

After Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Bolton, the Blues have 3 games remaining to seal their place in the Championship for next season.

Just 1 more point will confirm promotion for Pompey and 2 will secure the league title.

Up next for a midweek bout at Fratton Park is Barnsley, who are now mathematically out of the running for the automatics.

MANAGER

Barnsley are managed by Scotsman Neill Collins, who was appointed on a 2-year deal in July 2023.

The 40-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United defender brought an end to his playing career in 2018 whilst representing Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US, where he would go on to be given his first job in management.

Collins has a win percentage of 48 with The Tykes having been victorious in 24 out of 50 competitive games in charge.

ONE TO WATCH

With a goal in each of his last 3 games for Barnsley, midfielder Adam Phillips is on hot form and is our one to watch for this match.

Phillips has managed 10 league goals so far this season with 8 of them coming since the turn of the New Year.

The Tykes’ number 30 will likely be the source of any potential danger thrown at Pompey this midweek.

TOP SCORER

28-year-old striker Devante Cole is currently setting the pace in front of goal for The Tykes.

The Manchester City youth graduate has netted on 17 occasions in League One so far this campaign and is currently 4th in the division’s leading goal scoring charts.

Cole however is on a dry spell, not scoring in 14 consecutive league appearances since last finding the back of the net in a 1-1 draw with Bolton on the 3rd of February.

For Barnsley, he wears the number 44 shirt.

CURRENT FORM

Neill Collins’ side have hit a bit of a dip in form lately and, as a result, can no longer achieve a place in the automatic promotion places.

The Tykes are 11 points behind Derby County in 2nd with only 3 games left to play.

Just 1 win has been recorded in Barnsley’s last 6 league outings, during such time the Play-Off hopefuls have been defeated 3 times.

In the reverse fixture at Oakwell in September, it was the Blues who secured all 3 points thanks to a first half blitz, which helped them on their way to a 3-2 victory.

Can Pompey at least get the point they need to secure promotion to the Championship with 2 games to spare?

Express FM will bring you all of the unmissable action from Fratton Park when Pompey Live returns at 7pm on Tuesday (April 16th) evening.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!