Preview: Barnsley vs. Fleetwood Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts have climbed to fourth spot in the League One table thanks to their eye-catching run of form, while the visitors sit 16th following a defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

Match preview

After a mixed start to the season under the new management of Michael Duff, following their relegation from the Championship last term, Barnsley sat on 21 points from 15 outings, but they have since enjoyed an eye-caching upturn in form.

The Reds initially bounced back from a four-match winless run with a win over Forest Green Rovers, before quickly climbing back up the division with victories over Shrewsbury Town, MK Dons and Peterborough United.

Michael Duff's side would then make it five on the bounce when they took on Burton Albion before Christmas, as Devante Cole hit a goal in each half in a 2-0 triumph, moving within seven points of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday and nine points of the top two before travelling to Accrington Stanley on Boxing Day with the aim of continuing their positive run.

They enjoyed a fast start as James Norwood opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes, but the hosts would win a penalty on the hour mark which Tommy Leigh converted, forcing a share of the spoils as a result.

With the gap up to the top three having been extended again as a result of that draw, Barnsley will aim to take their unbeaten run to seven league matches on Thursday and make a return to winning ways on their return to Oakwell.

Fleetwood Town make the trip to Yorkshire looking to bounce back from a defeat last time out, after previously improving their standing in the fight at the bottom end of the division.

Following Scott Brown's appointment as manager in the summer, the Cod Army managed just 16 points from their opening 14 league matches, but they would then improve their form, suffering just one defeat in their next seven outings and collecting 10 points.

The spell was capped off by a commendable 1-1 draw away at second-placed Ipswich Town and a 2-1 victory at MK Dons, as Daniel Batty hit a 90th-minute winner after Carl Johnston had drawn them level, and they would face another tough test at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day in their bid to continue climbing away from the relegation zone.

Shaun Rooney put Brown's men ahead inside 10 minutes of that contest on Monday, but George Byers quickly drew their visitors level before Marvin Johnson netted the decisive goal 20 minutes from time to condemn Fleetwood to just a sixth league defeat of the campaign.

With no teams around them triumphing in their games on Boxing Day either, the Cod Army do remain in 16th spot in England's third tier, five points clear of the bottom four, and they will look to bounce back on Thursday in another particularly tough test.

Barnsley League One form:

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Barnsley form (all competitions):

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Fleetwood Town League One form:

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Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Barnsley will likely come into Thursday's game with an unchanged starting XI from the one which was fielded on Boxing Day, with James Norwood again set to lead the line after hitting his fourth league goal of the season last time out.

He will be joined by Devante Cole, who has hit the net seven times in 21 League One appearances so far this term, while the likes of Nicky Cadden and Adam Phillips will offer further support from midfield with Luca Connell likely to operate in the engine room.

Mads Andersen will keep his place in the middle of a back three, likely alongside Liam Kitching and Robbie Cundy, while Herbie Kane may again play as a makeshift wing-back on the opposite flank to Jordan Williams.

Fleetwood Town come into Thursday's game without full-back Shaun Rooney, who was sent off late on in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last time out after opening the scoring earlier in the contest.

Joe Garner could come in to lead the line from the outset and add experience to the front line, while Carlos Mendes Gomes will keep his place on the right wing, with the Luton Town loanee leading the squad's scoring charts having netted six goals in 18 appearances thus far alongside three assists.

Paddy Lane is vying to come back into the midfield, although Josh Vela and Daniel Batty are mainstays in the engine room, likely only leaving Lewis Warrington's place up for contention.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Cadden, Connell, Phillips, Kane; Cole, Norwood

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Sarpong-Wiredu, Andrew; Vela, Batty, Warrington; Mendes Gomes, J Garner, Morton

We say: Barnsley 2-1 Fleetwood Town

Barnsley find themselves in fine form and will be keen to return to winning ways on Thursday after a slightly disappointing draw last time out.

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