Preview: Barnsley vs. Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

The Tykes are currently sixth in the table, picking up 46 points from their opening 25 matches of the campaign, while Carlisle are 23rd, having only collected 20 points from 27 matches during a tough season.

Match preview

Barnsley finished fourth in League One last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in the final.

The Tykes are therefore competing in the third tier once again, and a productive season to date has seen them pick up 46 points from their 25 matches to sit sixth in the table, level on points with seventh-placed Stevenage.

Neill Collins's side are unbeaten in League One since November 11, which is a run that stretches nine matches, and they will enter this game off the back of a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

Barnsley drew with Peterborough United and Wigan Athletic ahead of their victory over Bristol Rovers, and they will now be bidding to record their 14th league success of the campaign on Tuesday night.

The Tykes have picked up 21 points from their 13 home league games this season, and they will be welcoming a Carlisle outfit with the worst away record, with the visitors collecting just six points from their 13 fixtures away from their own supporters.

Carlisle, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of successive losses to Exeter City and Oxford United, which made it three defeats from their last four League One fixtures.

The Cumbrians boast a record of four wins, eight draws and 15 losses from 27 league games this season, with a total of 20 points leaving them down in 23rd position in the table.

Carlisle, who were promoted through the League Two playoffs last season, are only two points ahead of basement side Fleetwood Town, while they are six points from Exeter in 20th.

Paul Simpson's side have only scored 22 times in the league this season, while they have conceded 41, which is the joint-second worst defensive record in England's third tier.

The Cumbrians last locked horns with Barnsley in the League Cup in August 2019, and they recorded a 3-0 victory in that particular contest.

Barnsley League One form:

D

W

W

D

D

W

Carlisle United League One form:

L

D

L

W

L

L

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Team News

Devante Cole has been Barnsley's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on 15 occasions, and he will again feature in the final third of the field.

John McAtee has nine goals in all competitions this term, and the 24-year-old will also start, while Herbie Kane will again feature in central midfield.

Head coach Collins could name an unchanged side for the clash with Carlisle, which should mean that Jon Russell again features in holding midfield on Tuesday night.

As for Carlisle, head coach Simpson is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the 3-1 home defeat to Oxford United last time out.

Jordan Gibson is the team's leading goalscorer this season with eight, and the 25-year-old, who came off the bench on Saturday, is set to start on Tuesday night.

Daniel Butterworth has only managed one goal in all competitions this season, but he should again feature in a forward area, while Owen Moxon is set to retain his spot in central midfield.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Williams, De Gevigney, Shepherd; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Russell, Kane, Styles; Cole, McAtee

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Lewis; Whelan, Lavelle, Mellish; Ellis, McCalmont, Moxon, Neal, Robinson; Butterworth, Gibson

We say: Barnsley 2-0 Carlisle United

Barnsley have so much quality in the forward positions, and we are expecting the home side to have too much for their opponents on Tuesday night. Cole and McAtee are full of goals, and we are backing at least one of the forwards to score in a home success in this clash.

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