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Barnsley
Championship
Mar 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Bournemouth logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Cook (90')

Preview: Barnsley vs. Bournemouth

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between bottom-of-the-league Barnsley and Bournemouth at Oakwell.

Barnsley will be looking to emulate relegation rivals Charlton Athletic by beating Bournemouth in the Championship this Saturday.

The Addicks scored in second-half stoppage time to edge a 1-0 victory over the Cherries on Tuesday, a result that lifted them off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.

Barnsley were the team who replaced them at the foot of the Championship, and they are in desperate need of a victory to ensure that they don't lose touch with safety.

They are currently just three points behind 21st-placed Charlton, but their goal difference - the worst in the league - effectively adds another point onto that while the Addicks also have two games in hand.

Back-to-back 3-0 defeats have left Barnsley with the joint-worst defensive record in the division, and that is a pressing concern for Danny Wilson to deal with if he is to conjure up a great escape.

Wilson's own job may well be under serious threat after the club sacked his assistant Micky Mellon and goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock earlier this week.

However, a victory on Saturday - which would be their third in the space of six league games - would do plenty to appease the fans and could lift them off the bottom, depending on results elsewhere.

A swift return to winning ways at Oakwell is vital for the Tykes having been swept aside by leaders Leicester in their last outing in front of their own fans - a result which ended a run of five home games without defeat.

Wilson could welcome Peter Ramage and Paddy McCourt back into the side, but Martin Cranie and David Fox are both doubts while Jim O'Brien is definitely out.

Bournemouth's defeat to Charlton came as something of a surprise after they had moved into the top half of the table with a good spell of form that showed the first glimmers of consistency all season.

Three consecutive wins were followed by a goalless draw against Middlesbrough, giving the Cherries their fourth straight clean sheet.

A top half finish will still be the aim for Bournemouth, but with nothing more substantial to fight for Eddie Howe could find it hard motivating his team from now until the end of the season.

He could bring Yann Kermorgant back into the starting lineup depending on the attacker's injury progress, but Charlie Daniels and Elliot Ward will both definitely miss out.

Recent form

Barnsley: LWLWLL

Bournemouth: LWWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Barnsley: Steele; Hunt, Mvoto, Ramage, Kennedy; Mellis, Frimpong; McCourt, Proschwitz, Jennings; O'Grady

Bournemouth: Camp; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte; Surman, Arter, O'Kane, Ritchie; Kermorgant, Grabban

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson looks on during a League One match at Brammall Lane on February 1, 2013
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