Preview: Barnsley vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Barnsley will attempt to claim a second straight victory when they welcome Stockport County to Oakwell for Saturday's League One contest.

The hosts are currently in third place with 13 points to their name, while the visitors are two points further back in seventh position.

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Match preview

Barnsley will be satisfied with their start to the League One season, having won four, drawn one and lost two of their seven league matches this season.

Despite that promising record, the Tykes recently experienced a couple of disappointing results, suffering heavy defeats to Stevenage and Manchester United in the league and EFL Cup respectively.

They fell to a 3-0 away defeat against Stevenage, before slumping to a 7-0 loss at Old Trafford following an Antony penalty and braces from Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen.

While Darrell Clarke would have been frustrated with those two results, the Barnsley boss saw his team show great character to bounce back with a 2-1 away win over Burton Albion thanks to Luca Connell's first-half effort and Stephen Humphrys' 90th-minute winner.

After competing in three consecutive away matches, the Tykes will be looking forward to returning to Oakwell, where they have put together a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Stockport made a positive start to their first League One campaign since 2009-10, winning their first three league matches without conceding.

However, their momentum has dropped off in recent weeks, having drawn consecutive league games against Mansfield Town and Crawley Town before they fell to their first defeat of the League One season against Leyton Orient.

Jack Diamond appeared to give Stockport a foothold when he halved the deficit in the 50th minute at Edgeley Park, but the O's scored two more goals to condemn the Hatters to a 4-1 loss.

While one unbeaten record may have disappeared, Stockport still have the opportunity to extend their undefeated away streak to five competitive matches after winning two and drawing two of their four road trips this season.

The Hatters are preparing to face Barnsley for the first time since January 2005, and they are hoping to claim their first head-to-head win since running out 4-1 winners in a home meeting in September 2002.

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Team News

Barnsley will have to assess Fabio Jalo after his substitute appearance against Burton was cut short due to injury.

Defender Donovan Pines is going through concussion protocols and is a doubt for Saturday's contest, while there is also uncertainty surrounding Connell's availability after he was forced off last weekend.

Humphrys could be rewarded with his first Barnsley start after he came off the bench to score the late winner last time out.

As for the visitors, Lewis Bate and Isaac Olaofe could both be considered for starting spots after they featured as half-time substitutes last weekend.

Louie Barry will be one of Stockport's main attacking threats, having scored four goals in six league matches this season.

Barnsley possible starting lineup: Slonina; Cotter, De Gevigney, Roberts, Earl, O'Keeffe; Phillips, Craig, Benson, O'Keeffe; Humphrys

Stockport County possible starting lineup: Addai; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Bate, Diamond, Norwood, Adaramola; Collar, Barry, Olaofe

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We say: Barnsley 1-1 Stockport County

Barnsley have won just one of their three home league games this season (D1, L1), and we think that they could experience more frustration by being held to a draw by a Stockport side that have drawn their last two away matches.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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