Barnsley v Ipswich Preview

Posted on | October 2, 2009 | No Comments

Barnsley’s fortunes have just kept improving following Mark Robins’ arrival and the Tykes moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season after recording a comprehensive 3-1 victory over West Brom. It’s a little different for their opponents Ipswich though, who are rooted to the foot of the table with just five points to their name.

Barnsley recorded the shock result of the week on Tuesday when they comfortably beat West Brom 3-1. It wasn’t just the score line that surprised people though, with many pundits lauding over the Tykes’ display and claiming that they were full value for their victory. That result lifted Mark Robins’ men out of the relegation zone for the first time this season and already, it looks as though the new Oakwell chief has made a huge impact on the club. He’s brought five players in the three weeks he’s been in the job and all look to have contributed to the upturn in fortunes. However, the job is by no means over yet and Robins will be hoping that this surge in form continues and is not just due to the standard “new manager honeymoon period”.

Ipswich on the other hand look to be in trouble and that’s despite the fact they were one of the favorites for promotion at the start of the season. Under Roy Keane, a man who engineered Sunderland’s promotion to the Premiership in less than a season, the club were tipped to challenge for high honors. However, that’s not been the case at all and following the draw with Sheffield United on Tuesday, Keane received the dreaded vote of confidence. While a draw at Bramall Lane is nothing to be scoffed at, the Tractor Boys were guilty of letting slip a two goal lead and considering the fact they haven’t recorded a league victory this season, that’s not acceptable.

As for team news, Mark Robins looks set to keep on loan keeper Bartosz Bialkowski between the sticks as David Preece and Luke Steele continue to recover from their injuries. Elsewhere, Anderson de Silva is a doubt after the Brazilian was forced off in the last game with a hamstring injury. All of Ipswich’s news is at the back and focuses on Alex Bruce’s injury. The former Birmingham man is still not fit due to a groin problem and this means that Tommy Smith and Gareth McCauley will keep their places at the heart of the Tractor Boys’ defence.

Ipswich may have done the double over Barnsley last season, but things are completely different now. The Tractor Boys may have invested heavily through the summer but Barnsley are full of confidence and are classed as favorites by the bookies. Still, Ipswich know they need to pull something out of the hat to save Roy Keane so we predict a scrappy 1-1 draw.

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