Our inability to break down teams, and susceptibility to be hit on the counter attack has resulted in a Tuesday night trip down to West Sussex. Our game on Saturday has now been postponed, meaning a fixture pile up is going to occur at some stage. As you'd imagine, the reds are still heavy favourites to avoid an upset, albeit at the shorter price of 1/4, with the hosts available in the early betting at 9/1. Horsham suffered only their second home defeat in 17 games at the Camping World Community Stadium on Saturday, with a 2-0 loss to Hashtag United {shudders}. Undefeated on home soil since the opening day of the season, the official club site describes the defeat as 'deeply frustrating' with the hosts having the lions share of possession, but unable to make it count (sounds familiar). This ended a run of 6 home wins in 8 games, including the convincing upset of National League side, Dorking Wanderers. Of course, our away unbeaten run, which stood at 11 in all competitions, came to a shuddering halt at the weekend too. That run saw us score 23 goals for, and conceded just 8 across 11 matches. The big outlier in that was the 4-4 draw at MK Dons, where we had nothing to play for, and the Dons were fighting for their lives. For the first time this season, we have a repeated referee. Thankfully it isn't Ben Toner from the first tie, but Sunny Singh Gill, who took charge of our victory at Cheltenham earlier in the season. He's currently mid-table in the ref watch rankings. The responses to his performance vs Cheltenham were largely positive, with his only moment of controversy being the failure to award Jack Shepherd a first professional goal, with a header which had clearly crossed the line upon detailed inspection. https://barnsleyfc.org.uk/threads/ref-watch-sunny-gill.324770/ In regards to team selection, I presume Cole, Styles, Russell and Jalo are unavailable due to international selection. I can't see us rotating too much with us not having a game until next Tuesday (which, even then is an EFL trophy game), other than what we need to. Cosgrove is reportedly injured, meaning Watters will most definitely start in attack, probably alongside McAtee. Connell may be dip tested in this game (although I haven't read why he didn't make the 18 at the weekend) with Styles and Russell being absent. Lopata must also be getting close to fitness, as he's been pictured in training for a few weeks. He'd add some much needed steel to the back line. I'm confident that we'll eventually get the job done. They'll be buoyed by the result at our place, but I can't see us being as patient in our build up away from home, even at a side 4 leagues below us. I'm going for 0-2 with McAtee and Phillips getting the goals.
Dont think Benson will start - he did his hamstring at Derby and I doubt he will make the squad. Wouldnt be surprised to see Shepherd start with Williams moving to RWB and Cotter or OKeefe starting in midfield If we can score first I would expect us to win fairly comfortably but the longer it goes without us taking the lead the more likely a massive upset Going for 3-0 to the reds and hope we get the first goal
Midfield trio will be interesting. I assume Kane, Phillips plus a n other with Connell on the bench. With Benson looking injured again, maybe one of the under 21 will start. Regardless, if we create as many chances as in the first game, we will easy, 4 or 5 one. If we play not to lose, we probably will. Attack Collins!! Attack!!!
I’m going for a 3-1 win for us. Based on that I think we’ll create plenty of chances again but be a bit more clinical with our finishing this time.
5.1 to us. They will take a shock 1. 0 lead after 10 minutes. We will then get 4 first half goals, Phillips with 2 and 1 each for Marsh and Watters. A fifth, from Barry Cotter, will be added in 90th minute
Had chances to bury them in the first game,i don`t think they will be as lucky this time,4 - 0 to us.
1-2 Kane early for us. They pull one back on 80 mins only for Cosgrove to belt a 30 yard volley home in 90+4. He windmills Collins in celebration and is back on the naughty step until Xmas.
As things stand this looks like a classic fa cup upset in front of the cameras. Barnsley are wobbling at the moment and can't be very confident. TV, home advantage for the opponents and no doubt a team giving 110% (not Barnsley) and this looks like a shaky tie.
1-0 Barnsley, own goal lobbed over their 'keeper from the halfway line after we give the ball away with a sloppy pass across the back 3. Or summat.
2 nil horesham. Collins blames the artificial pitch and says before the 1st goal there was nothing in the game.