Preview: Barnsley vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

Barnsley and Preston North End meet at Oakwell on Saturday with both clubs looking set to end the season on poor runs of form.

The Tykes are already relegated and sit bottom of the Championship, while the Lilywhites are 16th but could still achieve a top-half finish.

Match preview

© Reuters

Barnsley sacked Poya Asbaghi after their relegation was confirmed last week, with caretaker boss Martin Devaney overseeing a 2-0 home defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night.

Devaney, who made over 170 appearances for the club as a player, is the favourite to take the job full time and gave opportunities to a few younger names on Tuesday with a view to planning for next season.

The Tykes are dropping out of the Championship without a whimper – 12 months after competing in the playoffs for promotion to the Premier League – as they have not won in their last seven matches and are currently on a run of three consecutive defeats.

Twenty-two of their 30 points this season have come at Oakwell, so with a trip to West Bromwich Albion to come on the final day, their last chance to give fans something to smile about is likely to come this weekend on home turf.

© Reuters

Preston have suffered three successive defeats away from home, conceding eight goals and scoring none in that run. Only Barnsley and Derby County have netted fewer goals on the road this season than the Lilywhites (16).

Ryan Lowe's side were beaten 4-1 on home turf by Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Monday night, leaving them winless in three matches. They have not gone four games without victory since October.

If Preston remain in 16th place or drop lower, it will be their lowest finish since promotion to the Championship seven years ago, but they are only three points adrift of the top half albeit with an inferior goal difference.

The Lilywhites have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, including this season's reverse fixture in December when Daniel Johnson scored the winner in a 2-1 victory in Lowe's first game in charge.

Team News

© Reuters

Barnsley are already planning for next season, with loanees Claudio Gomes, Amine Bassi and Domingos Quina returning to their parent clubs early.

The Tykes have also pledged to only use players contracted beyond the end of the season, meaning Aapo Halme, Romal Palmer and Victor Adeboyejo are unlikely to feature.

Youngsters Isaac Christie-Davies, William Hondermarck and Aiden Marsh all played against Blackpool and should get game time again.

Ryan Lowe has confirmed that out-of-contract Izzy Brown and loanee Josh Murphy are no longer training with Preston as they have failed to meet his "high standards".

Having returned from a calf injury, Tom Barkhuizen played 45 minutes for the reserve side on Tuesday and is in contention to play.

Andrew Hughes has a toe problem and is a doubt, while Ched Evans is unlikely to feature as his recovery from injury continues.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Walton; Moon, Kitching, Andersen; Brittain, Wolfe, Hondermarck, Oduor; Styles; Woodrow, Morris

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Iversen; van den Berg, Lindsay, Bauer; Potts, McCann, Browne, Cunningham; Johnson; Riis, Archer

We say: Barnsley 2-2 Preston North End

This should be an open game as both clubs will be coupling low confidence levels with experimental sides as the two managers look ahead to next season. We think that it could be high-scoring but end level.