After an international break that saw Wales open their Cardiff City Stadium account with a thumping victory over Scotland, the Bluebirds are back in action as we head north to Barnsley. Simon Glanville previews the game.
Cardiff team news: Adam Matthews is a big doubt for the Barnsley game after injury during Wales' under-21s defeat against Bosnia in Sarajevo. However, Kevin McNaughton is now fit and raring to go and may well come in for the youngster.
Manager Dave Jones is also hopeful of having the in-form Peter Whittingham available again, after the midfielder missed out through injury in 'City's last outing at Swansea. Michael Chopra is free to play after serving his one-match suspension against the Swans. There are however concerns over the fitness of Anthony Gerrard and Jay Bothroyd, which could pave the way for a start for Gabor Gyepes and Ross McCormack.
Barnsley team news: Boss Mark Robins has a strong squad to pick from for the visit of Cardiff. Hugo Colace is his only major doubt, other than the players that have yet to return from international duty. Colace has a soft tissue injury in his groin which had to be operated on during the week, meaning Saturday's game may come too early for him. Tykes skipper Stephen Foster is also expected to return to the squad after missing the Sheffield United match through suspension.
Barnsley's season so far: With Simon Davey gone and Mark Robins now at the helm, Barnsley have gone from strength to strength in recent weeks. It was a slow start to the season for the Reds, which ultimately saw Davey lose his job. It took until the middle of September to register their first league victory, after a hard-fought 3-2 win at Derby.
Despite then being hit for five at QPR, the Tykes hit the ground running with three consecutive victories, against West Brom, Ipswich and Doncaster. Bristol City and Nottingham Forest then inflicted successive defeats, but Barnsley will head into the game with Cardiff two games unbeaten, after winning at Peterborough and drawing with local rivals Sheffield United last time out.
Last meeting: It was a comfortable Cardiff win the last time we met Barnsley, which was back in March at Ninian Park. First-half goals from Joe Ledley and Michael Chopra put 'City firmly in control, and although Jon Macken did half the deficit for the visitors, Peter Whittingham sealed the points with two minutes remaining.
Teams from last meeting at Ninian Park on 3rd March 2009:
Bluebirds: Konstantopoulos, Blake, Gyepes, Roger Johnson, Kennedy, Parry (Owusu-Abeyie 74), Rae, Ledley, Whittingham, Eddie Johnson, Chopra (McCormack 69). Subs not used: Capaldi, Comminges, Scimeca.
Barnsley: Muller, Hassell, Foster, Guedes (Moore 45), Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Colace, Teymourian, Hammill, (Rigters 81), Mifsud, Bogdanovic (Macken 62). Subs not used: Steele, Van Homoet.
Attendance: 15,902.
Barnsley last time out: Mark Robins Barnsley twice let a lead slip last time out as Sheffield United earned a point at Oakwell. Anderson De Silva put the Tykes in front shortly after the break, but a Darius Henderson penalty got the Blades level. Daniel Bogdanovic then regained the lead for the home side with only fifteen minutes remaining, only for Henderson to score another penalty to earn his side a share of the spoils.
Barnsley: Steele, Kozluk, Moore, Dickinson, Shotton, Doyle, De Silva, Hammill, Colace, Macken (Hume 75), Bogdanovic (Gray 76). Subs not used: Campbell-Ryce, Hallfredsson, Preece, Hassell, Thompson.
