STEW'S PREVIEWS
MIDDLESBROUGH v BARNSLEY
Stewart Flaherty, 9 Feb 2010
BORO EYE VIEW
Boro are playing well but the pressure continues to grow. A top six spot is the minimum for the season to be considered a success and despite a four game unbeaten run, Boro sit in tenth place.
Only wins will move them up the table and while the shape and defending is positive, chances must be finished and games won for the team to move onward and upward.
Last time out Boro showed spirit to come back from an early opener by Daryl Murphy to earn a point, but Justin Hoyte in central midfield shows in some areas the squad is still thin. Boro will look to pick up three points against fellow play-off contenders Barnsley.
BARNSLEY EYE VIEW
Barnsley were perceived as average in the division in pre-season and currently sit ninth. However those facts do not do justice to how well the Tykes have played of late, and in particular the excellent job being done by new manager and former Manchester United striker Mark Robins. After six games this season Barnsley had yet to win and sat rock bottom of the table.
Barnsley have won their last two games, producing a 4-1 win at Preston and a 1-0 victory at home against Watford, midfielder Emil Hallfredsson with the winning goal.
Column Continues Below...
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Boro - Danny Coyne appeared to take a knock at Ipswich but finished the game and no injury reports have surfaced. Coyne continues to play at a good level and is a truly excellent communicator.
Barnsley - Former Manchester United keeper Luke Steele has played 22 games so far this season and played his part in Barnsley's good recent form. Steele played a huge part in Barnsley's run to the FA Cup Semi finals in 2008, producing a man of the match performance in a victory at Anfield. Steele followed that up with another strong performance in a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
Edge - Barnsley. Steele is a real up and coming prospect with some impressive displays to his name already.
Boro Defence v Barnsley Attack
Boro - Stephen McManus made a solid Boro debut at Ipswich, and despite being beaten for the early goal, Wheater recovered to play well alongside him. Wheater capped his performance with the equalizer, and having also played well against Bristol City we may now see an upturn in confidence from the young centre back. Kyle Naughton played solidly on his debut and Jonathan Grounds has impressed so far this season. Emanuel Pogatetz and Chris Riggott remain question marks with niggling injuries.
Barnsley - In recent games Barnsley have lined up with lone forward Andy Gray and midfielder Anderson De Silva in an advanced midfield role behind him. Gray is a full Scottish international who began his career with Leeds United. Gray has five goals this season and will give a physical test to McManus and Wheater but likely not trouble them much for pace. Maltese international Daniel Bogdanovic is the club's leading scorer with seven but has not featured of late.
A potentially exciting addition to the Barnsley front line is Jay Rodriguez, signed on loan from Premier League Burnley. Although Rodriguez has only two sub appearances so far, he has already made an impact scoring with his first touch as a Tyke at Preston. Jonathan Macken and Iain Hume give depth to the attack.
Edge - Boro. McManus is a welcome addition. Gray alone is not much of a threat so if Boro communicate and deal with the second wave runners they should hold the upper hand.
Midfield
Boro - Barry Robson's red card seemed costly at the time, but when Justin Hoyte lined up in centre midfield Boro saw just how costly! Depth is lacking in the centre of midfield and a fit O'Neill and Robson will be crucial to a playoff run in. Robson returns for the Barnsley game and along with O'Neill provides a sturdy, ball winning pairing. Against Barnsley, Boro will likely have to combat an extra man in the centre of the park and it will be interesting to see if this is done by a striker dropping deep, or playing with a lone striker as Boro did at Doncaster. Willo Flood has locked down a spot on the flanks and it will be interesting to see if Taylor remains on the left, or a more attacking option is adopted. Rhys Williams remains sidelined.
Barnsley - The midfield is the strength of the Barnsley team, and their system of late provides the problem of an extra man centrally. Barnsley field three technically excellent footballers in Hugo Colace, Anderson De Silva, and Filipe Teixeira. In possession those three possess Premier League ability and will be a handful.
Colace is a tough, ball winning midfielder who is an Argentina Under 21 international. Colace has good passing ability and Boro fans will not need reminding of his well timed forward runs as he scored the winning goal in Barnsley's 2-1 win at Oakwell in December. Anderson De Silva is a Brazilian midfielder on loan from Everton. De Silva has excellent technical ability and a wonderful strike from distance. Filipe Teixeira is a loan signing from West Brom completed during the recent transfer window. Teixeira has experience of promotion to the Premier League with West Brom and is described by Mark Robins as "a top, top player" and a playmaker.
Icelandic international Emil Hallfredsson provides work rate and solidity on the left flank. Nathan Doyle had been a loan signing from Hull City, and his signing was completed during the transfer window. Adam Hamill is a fast and tricky winger who graduated from the Liverpool youth academy.
Edge - Barnsley. A real class act in the centre, and Boro will need to combat an extra man.
Boro Attack v Barnsley Defence
Boro - Scott McDonald is recovering from hernia surgery and is said to be very close to his Boro debut. The Ipswich game showed Boro still lack a razors edge striker to produce consistent goals. McDonald may well be that man and Boro will hope he is healthy. Killen and Miller started at Ipswich and this pairing lacks nothing in work rate and experience. Chances need to be finished though and both will look to get off the mark sooner rather than later. Leroy Lita will be pushing for a start while Jeremie Aliadiere remains injured.
Barnsley - Young prospects Carl Dickinson and Ryan Shotton arrived on loan from Stoke and both have cracked the starting lineup, producing a string of solid displays. Barnsley will have to adjust on Tuesday as Shotton received a red card during the Watford victory and will be suspended. Giant Jamaican international centre back Darren Moore fatures at the back along with Stephen Foster, the club captain who scored in Barnsley's 2-1 win over Boro. Bobby Hassell and Robert Kozluk are contenders to replace the suspended Shotton.
Edge - Even. Boro edge if McDonald plays otherwise a tough battle that could be settled on a set piece.
Fans
Boro - The pressure builds and unfortunately of late pressure has become hostility in home games. Boro badly need a home win and hopefully a boisterous crowd will help them on.
Barnsley - Tuesday night winter road trips tend not to bring large followings. Barnsley should bring a few hundred fans who will be cheering their team on in a game with big play-off implications.
Edge - Boro. Midweek home field advantage, and Boro's woeful home form is starting to gradually improve.
Prediction Boro win. Centre midfield is a concern, but if Boro defend tightly one goal could be enough in what will be a tight and closely fought battle.
