Barnsley face their toughest test yet as table-topping Norwich welcome them to Carrow Road

22nd July 2020 is a date that will stick long in the mind of every single Barnsley fan.

The Tykes had been in the relegation zone since the middle of September 2019, and as the season was drawing to a close, they looked a certain bet for relegation back to League One. However, a string of victories late into the campaign meant the Gerhardt Struber’s side could keep their place in the Championship with a win at promotion-chasing Brentford.

With the scores level heading into added time, fullback Clarke Oduor popped up in the box to score a 91st minute winner, breaking Brentford hearts and sealing safety for the South Yorkshire side.

Another tough season was predicted for the Tykes, who picked up just one point from their first four games before Struber was given an offer he couldn’t refuse, leaving the club to join MLS side New York Red Bulls. LASK manager Valérien Ismaël, fresh off leading his side to the Europa League round of 16, became the next in line to take over at Oakwell.

Barnsley have subsequently surged up the table, climbing up to eighth place, just three points off the playoffs. Since Ismaël took over in South Yorkshire, the Tykes have picked up 30 points from a possible 48, winning five of their last six games.

They now face their toughest test yet, as they travel to Norfolk to face Championship leaders Norwich at Carrow Road.

Daniel Farke’s side lost just one game between the beginning of October and Boxing Day, despite having an injury list long enough to form it’s own starting lineup. However, they’ve suffered a recent blip in form which has cut the gap between them and second place Brentford to just three points.

Perhaps before Christmas, the result of this game would’ve been a foregone conclusion, but Barnsley will fancy their chances after Norwich’s loss away at Watford and home draw against QPR. The Tykes’ form is scintillating, and an unlikely playoff push may be on the cards despite pre-season predictions of a relegation scrap.

Any success for the visitors will rely on keeping Norwich’s attacking trio quiet, something that very few teams have managed this campaign. Teemu Pukki, Todd Cantwell and Emi Buendia have scored 18 league goals between them so far this season, with the latter subject to some intense transfer speculation ahead of the January transfer window.

Really, it depends on which Norwich turn up on Saturday. Against Cardiff a couple of weeks ago, we saw the Canaries at their best – lightning fast on the counter and rock-solid at the back. If Farke’s side play like that, there’s little hope of the Tykes picking up a result against a Premier League quality side.

Ismaël’s Barnsley side have adapted superbly to their 3-4-3 formation. They’ve learned to change their shape when in and out of possession, keeping their forwards well connected with the rest of their team. Cauley Woodrow, arguably the jewel in the Tykes attack, has eight goals so far this season, and will fancy increasing his tally against the Canaries.

Norwich and Barnsley have similar approaches to football. Both have employed managers with strong connections to Bundesliga and a focus on organised, attacking football. The Canaries will be gunning for the Championship title at the end of the campaign, but the Tykes will hope that they won’t be too far behind, no matter what happens at Carrow Road this weekend.

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