Callum O’Dowda gives United the lead at Wembley in April 2016

Barnsley. The very name conjures up images of flat caps, smokey chimneys, drizzly skies, and trouble up t’mill. All stereotypes and, as such, almost certainly mostly untrue, probably. However, previous trips to Oakwell have taught me that in “the place of possibilities” (according to the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s website) an Oxford win is more in the realm of, if not impossibilities, unlikelihoods.

Indeed, in 14 visits to the home of Kes, Oxford have been the carrion more often than not, losing 10 times and taking maximum points on just two occasions, going back to the side’s first visit in January 1980: a 2-0 defeat in the third tier. Things improved slightly that October, with Gary Briggs scoring in a 1-1 draw, before reverting to the norm in April 1985, when United’s promotion push was briefly derailed in a 3-0 defeat.

That was the first of five consecutive Oakwell defeats for the U’s. In May 1989 Oxford lost 1-0, and they went down by the same score in March 1990.

It got worse before it got (not a lot) better, with a 3-0 defeat in October 1990 thanks to a second-half collapse.

Thankfully, it was back to the standard 1-0 defeat on the next visit, in March 1992 before, miracle of miracles, United finally won a game at the home of the Tykes in April 1993. Andy Melville did the damage with an early goal in an otherwise forgettable game.

A year later, in April 1994, it was back to the standard Oakwell 1-0 defeat, followed, in October 1996, by a goalless draw, and then – you guessed it – another 1-0 defeat in August 1998.

The sides met on neutral territory in April 2016 when League 2 Oxford played League 1 Barnsley in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley, in the competition’s final season before the EFL cocked it up and invited Premier League under-21 sides to enter. One of our own (OOOO) Callum O’Dowda converted Alex MacDonald’s cross to give the U’s a half-time lead, but Barnsley struck back in the second half with three goals. The Yellows had the final word, Danny Hylton heading home from Kemar Roofe’s cross to make the final score 3-2 to the Reds. The most memorable moment of the game was Chey Dunkley doing a Cruyff turn inside the Barnsley penalty area (20 mins of highlights – sorry).

The teams didn’t meet again until the opening game of the 2018/19 season when at least the tedium of all those 1-0 losses was ended as the home side ran out 4-0 winners (warning: video highlights comprise 10 minutes of almost constant Barnsley pressure).

Things improved the next time the sides met in South Yorkshire, in April 2023, as Oxford lost by just 2-0.

However, the last time the sides met, in August 2023, the season Oxford won promotion to the Championship, United achieved just their second win in Barnsley territory. Cameron Brannagan opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give the U’s a half-time lead. Jordan Williams very kindly put the ball into his own goal to double the score, before the home side pulled a goal back. OOOO Tyler Goodrham completed the scoring.

The Match

Barnsley currently sit second from bottom of League One, having lost their last six games in all competitions and without a win since 2nd September, when they picked up their only home league win of the season, against Blackpool. Last weekend, Barnsley lost 2-1 at Reading, having been beaten by the same score at Luton the previous midweek.

United, meanwhile, go into the game on an eight game unbeaten run, having lost just once all season, at Huddersfield on 1st September. This is the kind of fixture that would normally spell disaster for the U’s, but hopefully this season they are made of sterner stuff. We’ll see.

Following the three consecutive home games, a match on the road comes as a welcome respite for the Kassam pitch (and also for me, with Paul B writing the away reports), although following the postponement of the game at Peterborough, Oxford then go into a run of five home games on the spin, only two of which are league fixtures (against Reading on Wednesday and Wycombe Wanderers on 21st November).

There were no new injury concerns reported after Oxford’s 1-0 win over Stockport County on Tuesday, although we suspect that fatigue after three games in eight days will lead to a certain amount of rotation. Not that we would second guess Aaron Ramsey and he might well stick with the same side.

In defence, the only likely change is Brodie Spencer for Jack Currie at left back, with Currie looking totally jalfrezied when he came off on Tuesday. Kai Andrews may well return to the midfield, although whether that’s at the expense of Louie Sibley or OOOO Goodrham is anyone’s guess; both were a major influence in the team’s style of play against County.

There are more options for change in the front three, although I fully expect Mark Harris to retain his place after his goal and all-round performance against the Hatters. I also think Luka Lynch and Siriki Dembélé are likely to retain their places, although with OOOO Mo Missanga and Aidomo Emakhu breathing down their necks, there is plenty of scope for Ramsey to mix things up, should he so choose.

On Sunday, Oxford United Women welcome Chelsea PGA in the first knock-out round of the League Cup after the Yellows won their group. The team will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing home 2-2 draw with Real Bedford on Wednesday evening.

UTFO