Preview: Barnsley - Town

By Aston
November 24 2006

STB brings you team news, manager previews and betting odds ahead of Towns trip to Oakwell tomorrow afternoon (KO 3:00pm).

Town have no fully fit goalkeepers after Mike Pollitt was recalled by Wigan, Shane Supple has a groin injury, Lewis Price has not recovered from his rib injury and Jaroslav Drobny has a hamstring problem. Billy Clarke is out with an ankle injury and should be replaced by Danny Haynes in the starting 11. Owen Garvan and Gavin Williams are back in the squad after injuries but are short of match practice.

 

Town manager Jim Magilton says the lack of a fit goalkeeper is not a problem as he has a plan: “Shane (Supple) is still a little bit stiff around the groin, Lewis (Price) hasn't been able to do much and Jaro (Drobny) has been feeling his hamstring.

 

“But no matter who plays we'll be ready. The master plan is that we put on another great performance and our keeper doesn't have a save to make!”

 

Town Squad: Bates, Bruce, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Macken, Naylor, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Supple, Walton, Williams.

 

The Tykes are likely to hand debuts to loan signings Ronnie Wallwork, Kyel Reid, Grant McCann and Leon Knight.  

 

Barnsley caretaker manager Simon Davey: “Ipswich are coming here off a good result last weekend, they are a big club who have started to win games.

 

“The chief scout (Martin Wilkinson) has watched them and we know to expect a tough game.

 

“I've got quite an open mind. We can operate 4-4-2 but if I think I've got the players suited better to another system I'll change it, we will also look at the opposition.

 

“Hopefully we can get points in the bag. The most important thing is the players now and we have to make sure that they wear that shirt with pride.

 

“We don't have to please anyone but the board and the fans - and the way to do that is by collecting points.”

 

Betting Odds (found using Sportsnetwork Odds Checker):

Barnsley: 8/5

Draw: 9/4

Town: 37/20

 

Officials:

Referee: E L Ilderton

Assistants: R C Green and N A Yates

Fourth Official: P Simpson

 

Source: Evening Star and MySportToday

 

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