Preview: Morecambe vs. Barnsley - prediction, team news, lineups

The visiting Reds have fared much better this season than the Shrimps, who find themselves propping up the third tier with a lowly eight points from their opening 13 games.

Match preview

Derek Adams's side find themselves in a perilous position, six points from safety, but were able to snap a three-game losing streak last time out, against Burton Albion.

They came from behind thanks to a Ryan Delaney goal 13 minutes from the end after Davis Keillor-Dunn had given the team directly above Morecambe the lead in the first half.

Their struggles run throughout the team, starting with a defence that has not kept a clean sheet since the opening day and have conceded 24 times in the 12 games that have followed.

Going forward, they have scored just 10 goals, which is the fewest in the division, scoring more than once in a game just twice and failing to score in five matches.

The Mazuma Stadium has been anything but a fortress for the Shrimps, picking up just two points at home and they lost their last game there - the 2-1 defeat to second-place Ipswich Town.

Barnsley will look to get back to winning ways after the goalless draw with fellow playoff-chasers Bolton Wanderers.

The Tykes did not start the season in the style they would have hoped, picking up three wins in their first seven games, but turned that around with a trio of consecutive victories to get them back into playoff contention.

That winning run was snapped by Jay Stansfield and Exeter City, though, after the striker's brace at Oakwell two weeks ago condemned Barnsley to their fourth defeat of the season.

Michael Duff's men are the lowest scorers amongst the top six in League One with 17 goals, but have only conceded 12 which is the best amongst the teams in the playoff and automatic promotion places.

Barnsley have picked up four away clean sheets in a row, and that defensive stability has seen them go unbeaten in their past five games on the road, picking up 11 points in the process.

Morecambe League One form:

L

W

L

L

L

D

Morecambe form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

D

L

Barnsley League One form:

D

W

W

W

L

D

Barnsley form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

D

Team News

Morecambe will be without Arthur Gnahoua who will serve the final game of his league suspension for his red card against Accrington, and could be without Cole Stockton, too, after he was omitted from their side that lost to Harrogate Town in the Papa John's Trophy in midweek.

They could still be without Jonathan Obika who missed the last two games through a family issue, but should have Donald Love available to start after he missed the Harrogate defeat.

Barnsley have no new injury concerns after last weekend's draw at Bolton, but they are still waiting to see if Jordan Williams will be fit enough to play a part in Lancashire.

If he can not, then he will be back for their game against Lincoln City in midweek, which could see Tom Edwards keep his place on the right side of the midfield, with Josh Benson expected to start again after impressing in the draw with Bolton.

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Rawson, Bedeau, Delaney; Love, Shaw, Weir, Connolly, Gibson; Stockton, Phillips

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Benson, Connell, Larkeche; Aitchison, Cole; Norwood

We say: Morecambe 0-3 Barnsley

Morecambe have not been good this season and could have done with playing another one of the teams around them to build confidence from last week.

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