Bristol City go into this game with a good record of six wins out of the last seven games of their last seven matches and will be looking to extend that run against a Barnsley side that have lost their last two and won only one of their last 10.
Barnsley have had their problems but have kept away from danger largely because of their ability to win at home against other teams in the bottom half of the Championship. A victory on Saturday would be their eighth at Oakwell this season against a current bottom-half side.
Vital Quotes:
Steve Caulker: ‘I want to wish the boys all the best for the rest of the season. I know we are 14th in the league and 10 points off the play-offs, but there are seven games still to play and a lot can still change between now and the first week in May.
‘If we win all seven games, then we may be in with a chance. The lads have done brilliantly to win six out of the last seven and they just need to keep it going and see where it takes them.’
Barnsley Team News:
Barnsley captain Stephen Foster could make an overdue return from injury.
The Tykes defender looked set to make his comeback from a thigh problem in the Crystal Palace clash, but failed to make the squad.
However, he played 45 minutes in a reserve match against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday and could be selected.
Fellow defender Paul McShane did feature against Palace after making a speedy recovery from a hamstring tear and is likely to retain his place.
Jay McEveley (knee) and Jacob Mellis (hamstring) managed more than an hour of second-string action in the 1-0 defeat against Forest and both are in contention for a recall.
Player to watch: Marlon Harewood
three goals in the last four games shows that the much travelled number nine still has the touch.
Bristol City Team News:
Bristol City will check on midfielders Cole Skuse and Kalifa Cisse.
Manager Keith Millen was unable to give Skuse, who has been out with a toe injury, a run-out in the reserves on Wednesday due to illness while Cisse has only recently resumed training after a troublesome thigh problem.
‘There’s a bit of a bug going round at the moment and Cole pulled out of the reserve game, which is a shame as he needed the minutes under his belt and it could set him back a week,’ said Millen.
‘We will keep a close eye on Kalifa and see how he is feeling at the weekend.’
Striker Jon Stead did play for the reserves and, after making his return from an ankle injury as a substitute against Doncaster last weekend, will hope to push for a starting role following a goal for the second string.
Player to watch: Nicky Maynard
Goal Machine.
Match Facts & Stats
From BBC football
Head-to-head
?City have won 38 of the 84 previous matches between these clubs – 10 more than Barnsley.
?The Yorkshire club’s last win against City was a 3-0 victory in October 2007.
?The Robins are two league goals away from their 150th against Barnsley.
Barnsley
?The Tykes have picked up 17 more points at home this season than on their travels.
?Danny Haynes and Matt Hill could both face their former club.
?Bobby Hassell is in line for his 250th Barnsley appearance.
Bristol City
?City have won their last two matches and are second in the Championship’s ‘form table’ based on the last six games.
?They have gone 12 league matches without a draw, which is the longest current such sequence in the division.
?Jamal Campbell-Ryce could face his former club.
?A start for Damion Stewart would be the 200th of his club career.
Ref Watch:
Nigel Miller
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Match Prediction:
2-2.
Next Fixtures:
Tu 12 Apr 2011 Millwall v Bristol C
Sa 16 Apr 2011 Bristol C v Ipswich
Sa 23 Apr 2011 Sheff Utd v Bristol C
Mo 25 Apr 2011 Bristol C v Nottm F
Sa 30 Apr 2011 Derby v Bristol C
Sa 07 May 2011 Bristol C v Hull
