Preview: Barnsley vs. Shrewsbury Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Barnsley will be expecting to return to winning ways when they host Shrewsbury Town in League One on Tuesday.

However, the visitors have improved in recent weeks, collecting seven points from a possible nine in their last three games.

Match preview

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Despite losing their former manager Michael Duff to Swansea City after losing the playoff final to Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season, Barnsley have largely picked up where they left off to emerge as one of the third tier's stronger sides once again.

Neill Collins' only previous managerial role came with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL, which sits one level beneath MLS in the United States' soccer pyramid, but five years' worth of solid work in Florida convinced Barnsley's board that Collins was their man.

The Tykes certainly came flying out of the traps when beating Port Vale 7-0 at Oakwell on the opening day of the season, but they have since lost four of their last five home games, with their strong away form helping them up to third in the table.

However, their five-match winning streak on their travels came to an end with a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday, meaning they failed to close a five-point gap to second-placed Oxford United. Collins will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways on home soil on Tuesday.

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As Derby County found out at the weekend, though, Shrewsbury are unlikely to be accommodating opponents, with Matt Taylor's side keeping a third successive clean sheet at New Meadow on the way to inflicting a 1-0 upset on the Rams.

Former Barnsley midfielder Conor Hourihane's 56th-minute own goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, helping Shrewsbury move a healthy nine points clear of the relegation zone.

After punching above their weight under Steve Cotterill last season to secure their first top half finish in five years, Taylor will be expected to keep the Shrews comfortably away from relegation danger once again, which so far the former Walsall manager is achieving nicely.

That said, Shrewsbury have won just one of their last 15 away league games dating back to Valentine's Day, suggesting they have a serious task on their hands to defeat another one of League One's leading pre-season favourites for promotion.

Team News

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Barnsley will be without Sam Cosgrove due to suspension after the former Birmingham City forward received two cautions against Leyton Orient. The 26-year-old had only replaced Devante Cole in the 77th minute before being given his marching orders in injury time.

Adam Phillips could come into the hosts' midfield in order to provide some fresh legs given the quick turnaround between fixtures, but otherwise Collins is unlikely to make too many changes.

Likewise, Shrewsbury will likely be seeking an unchanged starting XI after his side delivered a superb victory against Derby in their last match.

That would mean Ryan Bowman and Elliott Bennett both having to settle for spots on the substitutes' bench once again, but fitness permitting, Taylor will not want to disrupt a winning formula if he can help it.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Killip; Williams, De Gevigney, McCart; O'Keefe, Russell, Kane, Benson, Cadden; Cole, Watters

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Flanagan, Dunkley, Sraha; Winchester, Kenneh, Perry, Bayliss, Fleming; Udoh, Mata

We say: Barnsley 2-0 Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury's away form has been dire for most of the calendar year, with Taylor so far proving powerless to change that, having lost four of his six away trips without scoring a goal.

We expect that pattern to continue when they visit Barnsley, who will be determined to start making up some ground on the division's top two teams sooner rather than later as they look to return to the Championship.

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