Barnsley fans set for rare glimpse of ex-boss as WBA look to inflict more damage

Valerien Ismael only managed in front of Barnsley's fans for one game.

It proved to be the penultimate match of his short but hugely successful reign in that particular corner of South Yorkshire.

The Frenchman led the club to an unlikely Championship play-off spot last season, only to fall short at the semi-final stage against Swansea. That first leg against the Welsh side saw 4,000 fans permitted into Oakwell - Ismael's only glimpse of the supporters during his stay in charge, owing to Covid restrictions.

He was only appointed in November but transformed Barnsley from a side that were looking over their shoulders to one dreaming of a Premier League return.

Sadly, the fairytale didn't quite happen. The summer saw Ismael poached by freshly-relegated West Bromwich and tonight he makes his first return to Oakwell with his old club having fallen back into their old routine.

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Prior to last season's fifth-placed finish, Barnsley's previous 13 seasons at this level had seen them finish in the bottom half of the table.

The majority of those campaigns were either spent treading water or being relegated back to the third tier.

And so this season looks like returning to a familiar theme.

Ismael's old club are on their second manager since his exit, with Poya Asbaghi given the unenviable task of trying to prevent a third demotion from this league in nine years.

The two sides meet on Friday with a mammoth 27 points separating them. Barnsley are eight adrift of safety and tonight's game marks the halfway stage in the campaign.

Unless they can quickly improve on their two league wins so far (the joint-lowest in the entire EFL, along with Scunthorpe) then they are going to be needing snookers to avoid another relegation.

As for their old boss, he has adapted nicely to his new surroundings.

Aided by a stellar squad at this level, including former Barnsley captain Alex Mowatt who followed him in making the move in the summer, Albion were many people's pick to go straight back up to the Premier League following a meek surrender last season.

Despite their impressive start - they are third and can go level with second-placed Bournemouth with a win tonight - Ismael still sees room for improvement.

"I was surprised that it started very, very well and after it was clear that we needed to develop the squad," he said.

"We want to be strong out of possession, in possession and at set pieces - they are the three pillars - and at the minute we improve massively in all areas.

"Now it is all about taking the next step."

The hosts are still searching for their first three-point haul under 36-year-old Asbaghi.

Defender Mads Andersen, one of those who starred in the Ismael era, is still confident that a survival mission can be possible this season.

He said: "The new gaffer has come in with a new plan and I feel confident we will get the wins.

"He has a very clear plan, his communication is very good, he's always talking to us and showing us videos of what went wrong, what we can do better, but also where we're good.

"I still believe we can beat anybody, that's the mindset we go into these games with."