Barnsley look to take their exceptional league form into the FA Cup as they host League Two Tranmere

Photo: Barnsley FC

Having won on the final day of the 2019/20 season to secure Championship survival, Barnsley have excelled so far this term. Currently sat in ninth, new manager Valérien Ismaël has been a revelation in South Yorkshire. But can the Tykes take their form into the FA Cup this weekend?

In the 17 games since the Frenchman was appointed, Barnsley have picked up 31 points, making them one of the surprise packages this season in the second tier.

Now halfway through their Championship campaign, the Oakwell club find themselves just three points off of the play-offs, although sixth-placed Watford have a game in hand.

On Sunday afternoon though, their attention turns away from the league and onto the FA Cup as they welcome League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers to Oakwell in the third round of the competition.

The Rovers find themselves back in the fourth-tier of English football after achieving back-to-back promotions from the National League up to League One in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons respectively. However, their stay in the third-tier only lasted a season, having been relegated last term.

Sat in 13th, it’s been a mixed campaign for Keith Hill’s men who are six points off of the play-offs. An instant return to League One isn’t impossible, but will certainly require an upturn in form in 2021 if they are to achieve promotion.

Whilst Barnsley enter the competition at this stage given their Championship credentials, the Birkenhead club have already progressed past two rounds to reach Sunday’s tie. A 2-1 first-round win over League One side Accrington Stanley was followed by a 1-0 success over non-league outfit Brackley Town, with both games being played at Prenton Park.

Tranmere provided one of the shocks of the competition last season, overcoming a 3-0 deficit away at then-Premier League side Watford to secure a replay, which they won 2-1. That set them up for a mammoth tie at home to Manchester United, who went on to win 6-0 in the fourth round.

As for Barnsley, the 1912 winners of the competition’s run in the FA Cup last term also ended at the fourth round stage. However, a 3-1 win away at then-League Two Crewe and a 4-2 loss at League One Portsmouth wasn’t a particularly memorable run in the competition.

With both sides setting their own respective targets for their league campaigns and what they want to achieve come May, it is certainly possible that the FA Cup isn’t a priority for either outfit and that both teams field weakened starting elevens. However, for Barnsley in particular, it could prove a decent opportunity to put together a memorable cup run.

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