THE OPPOSITION

With one of the lowest budgets in the Championship, it’s perhaps little surprise Barnsley are lingering around the wrong end of the table with the first two months of the season having passed in the rear-view mirror already. Luke Thomas’ early strike handed the Tykes their first win of the season against Fulham on the opening day, but wins – or points of any kind, for that matter – have become hard to come by since.

One of the factors influencing this is the fact the club’s hierarchy have insisted on a model which involves building a squad of young, talented individuals under the age of 23. On paper, it’s a clever approach - similar to Brentford’s – that allows players to be brought in for a small fee and sold on for a significantly inflated sum later down the line; of the 12 summer recruits, only Mike-Steven Bahre and Samuel Radlinger were over the club-imposed age threshold. However, this – coupled with the fact several key players departed in the summer – means little-to-no Championship experience remains.

Though this has been evident, with comprehensive defeats to Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham and fellow promoted side Luton, Barnsley have seldom disgraced themselves, with Cauley Woodrow even taking August’s Goal of the Month prize for his stunning volley in the 2-2 draw with Charlton. That was, however, just one of four league goals the entire team has registered so far and they’ll need to arrest the alarming slump in front of goal to retain any chance of survival in the months that remain.

THE MANAGER

A prolific striker during his playing days, Daniel Stendel spent his entire career 14-year career in his native Germany, finding prolonged success with Hamburg SV II and Hannover, for whom he scored a combined 78 league goals. He left the latter after a seven-year spell in 2006, but signed for their second string a year later, following a short spell with FC St Pauli. He scored four goals in 19 games in the 2007/08 campaign – his final season – before retiring aged 34.The 45-year-old then spent eight years out of the limelight, before taking over from Thomas Schaaf at former club Hannover in 2016, having spent a short spell coaching the club’s under-19 squad. Stendel was sacked in March 2017 after a run of poor results but 15 months later, he succeeded ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid assistant Jose Morais, who was sacked after leading the Tykes to relegation at the end of the 2017/18 season. Last term, Stendel guided the club back to the Championship at the first attempt and, at the time of writing, boasts a remarkable win rate of 49.2 per cent.

TEAM NEWS

As was the case for the visit of Stoke last weekend, Thomas Frank has a full squad to select from for the visit to Yorkshire on Sunday, barring injured defensive pair Mads Bech Sorensen and Luka Racic.

Barnsley, meanwhile, may be able to call upon Cameron McGeehan from the start, after the midfielder made his return from injury in last weekend’s defeat to away at Nottingham Forest. Bambo Diaby is likely to be missing in defence with an ankle issue, while Ben Williams remains suspended.

THOMAS PRE-MATCH

PRE-MATCH BUILD UP

🆚 Hot off the Press: Leon Wobschall of the Yorkshire Post runs the rule over Barnsley’s winless streak⚖ Ref Watch: David Webb to take charge of trip to Oakwell🚗 Away Day Guide: Plan your trip to Oakwell

LAST MEETING

Barnsley 2-0 Brentford – 28 April 2018

TICKET INFO

Tickets are on sale tomorrow from the North Stand Turnstiles (cash only).  Juniors Tickets will only be available from the Barnsley Home Ticket Office (not available on the turnstiles).

*Juniors under 12 price is only applicable when purchased alongside an adult or over 65s ticket.

HOW TO FOLLOW

iFollow Brentford will be live from 1pm with Mark Burridge, Mick Cabble, and Ciaran Brett bringing commentary of game against The Potters.

iFollow | Domestic (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man)

iFollow | International (other countries worldwide)

Due to broadcast regulations, this game will not be available to watch for international iFollow subscribers.

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