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

The hosts currently sit in fourth place, while Barnsley are just one point adrift in sixth position, and they are currently in fine form after winning five of their last six competitive games.

Match preview

Since thrashing Salford City 3-0 in the first round of the FA Cup, Peterborough have gone on to lose three consecutive games.

After being edged out by Bristol Rovers in a League One meeting, Posh were knocked out of the EFL Trophy by Chelsea Under 21s following a 4-2 defeat.

In their FA Cup meeting with Shrewsbury Town last weekend, Kwame Poku restored parity in the 13th minute after Tom Bayliss had opened the scoring, but goals from Matthew Pennington and Luke Leahy before half time condemned Peterborough to a 3-1 defeat and a second-round exit.

Peterborough's sole focus for the remainder of the season will be on their League One campaign, and although they are 10 points adrift of automatic promotion, they currently sit in the playoff places.

A large part of their success in League One this season has come as a result of their home form, and Peterborough have the chance to record a fourth consecutive home league victory on Friday.

While Peterborough have lost their last three competitive games, Barnsley have won five of their previous six matches in all competitions.

Their only defeat in that period took place in the second round of the EFL Trophy, where Port Vale recorded a 2-1 victory to knock Barnsley out of the competition.

Michael Duff's side managed to return to winning ways last weekend as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the FA Cup thanks to goals from Devante Cole, Adam Phillips and Josh Benson.

After progressing to the third round, Barnsley will now turn attention back to league matters, and they would move above Peterborough in the table with a victory.

The Tykes also have the chance to claim a fourth consecutive league victory, while they have only lost one of their last seven away games in League One.

Peterborough United League One form:

L

W

W

W

L

L

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

L

Barnsley League One form:

D

L

L

W

W

W

Barnsley form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

Team News

Peterborough are expected to be without the services of Joe Ward, Joe Tomlinson and Ollie Norburn due to injury issues.

Goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright is nearing a return to fitness, but he is unlikely to feature in the squad for Friday's contest.

Despite losing to Shrewsbury last weekend, McCann could name an unchanged lineup, which would ensure that Jonson Clarke-Harris continues to lead the line, and the forward will be looking to add to the 12 league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are still without a number of injury absentees, including Matty Wolfe, Slobodan Tedic and Jordan Helliwell.

They are also unable to call upon Luke Thomas, Conor McCarthy and Will Hondermarck, who are all currently sidelined.

After beating Crewe 3-0 last weekend, Duff could be tempted to select an unchanged starting XI, with James Norwood set to partner Cole in the frontline.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; Thompson, Knight, Kent, Butler; Fuchs, Taylor; Poku, Burrows, Mason-Clark; Clarke-Harris

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Walton; Edwards, Andersen, Kitching; Benson, Kane, Connell, Phillips, Cadden; Norwood, Cole

We say: Peterborough United 1-1 Barnsley

Peterborough are unbeaten in their last five home league games, while Barnsley have won five of their previous six matches in all competitions, but we think that both sides will have to be content with sharing the spoils on Friday.

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