Lincoln City travel to South Yorkshire on Saturday, as they face promotion hopefuls Barnsley in Sky Bet League One action.
Michael Skubala’s side will be looking to keep their play-off hopes alive and extend their unbeaten run to 11 games on the weekend.
The Imps were held to a goalless draw at home to Stevenage last time out, as they recorded a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Opposition: Barnsley F.C.
The Tykes currently sit 4th in the table, just three points off the automatic promotion spots.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven games, with a 2-2 draw at home to second place Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night. The Trotters scored a 98th minute winner to pick up a valuable point.
The Yorkshire side boasts the second highest amount of goals scored in the league, 66, only two behind top-scorers Peterborough United.
Team News:
Imps boss Skubala confirmed that loanee Conor McGrandles joins Ethan Hamilton on the list of players to miss the rest of the season through injury.
He said: “It’s a big blow… the reason we brought Conor in was to cover midfield, so we’ve lost our cover as well.”
Midfielder Ted Bishop will be assessed before the game, after picking up a “little bit of a niggle”.
However, the Imps also have two positives, as Jack Borroughs returns from his ankle issue, as well as Adam Jackson following his broken nose.
Head-to-Head:
This weekend’s game will be the 75th meeting between the two sides, with Barnsley currently having 33 wins to Lincoln’s 25, with 16 draws.
The Imps are yet to lose to Barnsley (two wins and two draws), since the hosts were relegated to League One in 2022.
The sides drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture at the LNER Stadium, with Timothy Eyoma equalising in the 88th minute for Lincoln.
Featured for both:
Current Lincoln City midfielder, Ethan Erhahon, who has made 34 appearances in the league this season for the Imps has also been at Barnsley. The Scottish midfielder was signed on a short-term loan in 2020 by the Tykes from St. Mirren, but only appeared for their under-21’s side in that period.
Striker Peter Graham made 19 appearances in four years at the hosts between 1966-1970. However, he played most of his games at Lincoln, scoring 47 in 158 between 1973-1978.
Defender Jason Shackell also played for both sides. He served as club captain at Barnsley for the 2010-2011 season and later retired at Lincoln in 2020, making 60 appearances for the club.