From t'Star Reds hit by triple blow BARNSLEY manager Andy Ritchie has ruled injured trio Paul Reid, Matt Carbon and Nicky Wroe out of weekend action. All three are working on their fitness but will not be risked in Saturday's FA Cup tie with Darlington at Oakwell. Reid, who had a hamstring problem, is training with fitness coach Tom Little; Carbon has had a jab to treat his groin injury and Wroe is coming back from a knee operation. Ritchie will make at least two changes to the team that beat Walsall on Saturday with Jacob Burns suspended and on-loan Steven Watt denied permission to play by his club, Chelsea. Bobby Hassell returns to the team and Ritchie revealed that he could play him in midfield or in the back four. Hassell looks likeliest to replace Watt at centre-half alongside Antony Kay. Ritchie has other options in midfield but favourite could be to start Martin Devaney on the left wing and move Brian Howard into a central midfield role. Howard and keeper Nick Colgan have both been named in the League One Team of the Week. Colgan maintained his fine recent form in the home win over Walsall, while midfielder Howard scored the winning goal that lifted Barnsley into fifth place. Republic of Ireland international Colgan lost his place in the starting line-up at Oakwell towards the end of last season but has been first-choice this campaign. Howard missed the start of the season following his summer switch from Swindon after breaking a bone in his foot but he has started the last five matches.
Midfield Have to agree on the midfield selection. With Burns suspended it would have to be Devaney, Howard, McPhail and Shuker.
We were pretty dominant in the first half against Walsall but to be fair Walsall were awful. Even Merson siad so. Let's hope Darlo are just the same.