Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League One clash between Northampton Town and Barnsley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both aiming to build on important victories at the weekend, Northampton Town and Barnsley will square off at Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday.
The visitors moved back up to 10th spot in the League One table by ending a winless streak on Saturday, while their hosts moved further clear of the drop zone.
Match preview
© Imago
Northampton Town head back to Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday in search of back-to-back wins to further strengthen their League One survival bid, having built a lead over the bottom four in recent weeks.
Kevin Nolan took the reins in the East Midlands in December when they sat on 21 points from 21 games, and after a slow start he has been able to oversee an improvement since the beginning of February.
Indeed, after picking up one win and six points from their first seven league games under the new boss, the Cobblers have now won three of their last four outings in England’s third tier, firstly moving above the drop zone with back-to-back triumphs over Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town.
A 2-0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Wrexham then followed, but they were quickly able to get back to winning ways at the weekend, hosting Bristol Rovers and coming from behind to prevail in a 2-1 triumph, as Dara Costelloe levelled the scores on the hour mark and Nesta Guinness-Walker netted the winner 12 minutes from time.
That latest victory saw Nolan’s men climb to 17th spot in League One, remain four points clear of 21st spot and move seven ahead of 22nd place with 14 games remaining, and they will aim to climb closer to the middle of the table and further away from the threat of the drop with another victory on Tuesday.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, head to Sixfields Stadium in search of a second straight win of their own, as they bid to keep any playoff hopes alive with a run of results.
On the back of consecutive playoff defeats, Barnsley enjoyed a relatively strong first half to their latest promotion bid, sitting in the top six on 42 points from 25 outings, but they quickly fell well behind in a six-match winless run between mid-January and mid-February.
Darrell Clarke‘s side only managed a single point in that time, drawing against Burton Albion before suffering 2-1 defeats to Stockport County and Huddersfield Town, leaving the Reds 10 points behind the playoff spots with 15 games remaining heading into the weekend.
The South Yorkshire outfit were able to finally make a return to winning ways at the weekend, though, as they visited Rotherham United and took all three points as Adam Phillips netted the only goal of the game early in the second half from the penalty spot.
That victory saw Barnsley move back up to 10th spot and seven points behind sixth-placed Leyton Orient, and while their slim playoff hopes are now heavily reliant on other sides, they will aim to ramp up the pressure in the coming weeks with a winning run.
Northampton Town League One form:
Barnsley League One form:
Team News
© Imago
Kevin Nolan could field an unchanged Northampton Town starting XI from their victory at the weekend, with TJ Eyoma, Jon Guthrie, Jack Sowerby and Callum Morton set to remain sidelined by injuries, while Jordan Willis was only fit to make the bench on Saturday.
Despite Willis nearing a return to full fitness, Aaron McGowan, Max Dyche and Akin Odimayo should continue in a back three following Saturday’s 2-1 triumph.
Elsewhere, January arrival Dara Costelloe will continue to lead the line after opening his account in his second Cobblers appearance last time out, while Tariqe Fosu and Cameron McGeehan should join him in a front three and Mitch Pinnock and Sam Hoskins will offer further support from wing-back roles.
Barnsley should also field a similar starting XI from their victory at the weekend, with defender Donovan Pines and attackers Max Watters and Fabio Jalo remaining confined to the treatment room.
There will likely be an enforced change between the sticks, though, with Joe Gauci having been forced off with an injury, meaning Jackson Smith will make a first full start for the Reds, while Marc Roberts will again join Mael de Gevigney and Josh Earl in a back three following his return from a suspension.
Elsewhere, Jon Russell and Adam Phillips will again join key man Luca Connell in the midfield, while Stephen Humphrys and top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn will hope to continue up front despite competition from January arrival Clement Rodrigues.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; McGowan, Dyche, Odimayo; Hoskins, Shaw, Taylor, Pinnock; McGeehan, Costelloe, Fosu
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Smith; De Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keefe, Phillips, Connell, Russell, Farrugia; Humphrys, Keillor-Dunn
We say: Northampton Town 1-1 Barnsley
Barnsley will hope to make their quality count on Tuesday after keeping their slim playoff hopes alive with a crucial win on Saturday, but they face a tough test against a rejuvenated Northampton Town side and may have to settle for a share of the spoils at Sixfields Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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