MillersMad Match Thread...v Barnsley

It's Friday! We're nearly at match day and here is your match thread. Hopefully I can whet your appetite for another South Yorkshire derby.

The Boss
Conor Hourihane played for Barnsley some 10 years ago and scored 31 goals in 134 appearances. He played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and also appeared for the likes of Sheff Utd and Derby, as well as picking up 36 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

As a coach, he's very much a rookie. He returned to Barnsley as a player coach on 6/6/2024 and ultimately replaced Darrell Clarke after his sacking on 13/03/2025.

Player(s) to watch
Davis Keillor-Dunn is the likely danger man for Barnsley. He was the club's player of the season last season and scored 19 goals. Not necessarily an out and out striker, he's scored 7 goals so far this season.

David McGoldrick. Now 37, the veteran striker scored a hat-trick against Man Utd u21s in the week. Whether he starts the game I'm not sure but I think we're likely to see him play a part to some degree on Saturday.

Latest Odds
Barnsley (⅘)
Draw (13/5)
Millers (20/10)

Recent Meetings

I'll say it quietly but the last time we beat Barnsley at Oakwell was 55 years ago. It was 19th August 1970 and we won 1-0. The last time we won at home (which was at Millmoor) was on 16th October 1982, again a 1-0 victory for the Millers.

More recently they beat us in the EFL cup this season 2-1 and also 2-0 and 1-0 at Oakwell and the NYS respectively last season.

Summary

Barnsley's form hasn't been great just lately. Until Tuesday this week (when they beat Man Utd academy), they hadn't won in 6 games. Is it a good time to play them?

As for the Millers, I'm interested to see our starting 11. For the first time in a while, MH has a plethora of options available to him.

Martha and Benson for instance. Do we play them both and give Barnsley something to really worry about? Or do we play it safer and go with something a bit more solid looking in midfield?

Do we stick with Powell at LWB instead of Reece?

Does Nombe start?

So assuming everyone is fit and over the bug that seems to have swept the camp, there are a few selection headaches for Matt to ponder over.

A win for us on Saturday and my optimism for the remainder of the season will be going through the roof. However, if we are beaten (which the bookies certainly think we will be) then let's hope it isn't too much of a confidence knocker after our recent good run of form.

I think we're in for a good game on Saturday, enjoy it everyone. UTM.

Nombe to start. Barnsley 0 Rotherham 1.

Apologies, just noticed a typo which I can't edit.

Rotherham are 29/10 to win the game.

We arent too bad going forward and there's goals in this team which is probably just as well because defensively we are suspect and have been for 3 years now .

Having to score 3 or 4 goals every week just to pick up points isn't ever going to bring you success but that's where we are , 2 goals away last week at high flying Bradford was only enough to gain a point .

That said our best defender the experienced Marc Roberts should be back tomorrow after missing the last 6 weeks with injury but there's a doubt over attacking midfielder Adam Philips .

If the Millers come to attack then that's the best way to defeat us , no point sitting back against us because we've the quality to break you down .

We have no width on the right. No fit height up front. Could still win. Can't watch it so just keep an eye on the score.

Think we'll win tomorrow and only 2k traveling over is poor, the ones that aren't going over are gonna wish they attended trust me I have a good feeling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RU66

We have no width on the right. No fit height up front. Could still win. Can't watch it so just keep an eye on the score.

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Of course you can watch it. It?s 10 miles up the road.

20 minutes and ?4 on the train.

Looking forward to the game. 2-2draw is my prediction.

We?ve not won there in my lifetime.

I have been looking forward to us playing again all week.
I was one year old when we last won at Barnsley yet seems like yesterday 😂

I hope and pray that we win today for my good friend MH and his family.

I'm in a hotel currently in central London with the wife , we are down for the first Rugby League test between England and Australia at Wembley this afternoon .

I'm currently waiting for the one who knows best to get ready before hitting Oxford Street , as we all know there are trade offs that come with taking the wife down to London especially for a Rugby League game .

This could be expensive .

I fancy a draw at Oakwell and I'm tempted to lump on and possibly recover some expenditure that's bound to come in the next 2 hours .