Promotion-chasing Bournemouth make the trip to Barnsley on Friday evening looking to end a two-match winless streak in the Championship.
After a recent blip under recently-appointed boss Valerien Ismael, the Tykes head into the encounter at Oakwell on the back of a victory at Birmingham City.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having lost just once in 13 league games since the beginning of the season, Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall would have been confident about earning maximum points from games against Rotherham United and Preston North End.
While a 2-2 draw against the Millers was regarded as a disappointment, Tindall would have been desperately unhappy to lose 3-2 in the match which followed at the Vitality Stadium.
The defeat was made worse by going 3-0 behind to their out-of-form opponents, with a late comeback only papering over the cracks of another below-par performance.
Bournemouth currently remain in the playoff places, but back-to-back away games at Barnsley and Swansea City will test the character of this squad.
On the plus side, Junior Stanislas and Dominic Solanke are making a regular impression in the final third, contributing seven goals between them in the last four fixtures.
Barnsley had been enduring their own blip ahead of the trip to Birmingham earlier this week, and their run of defeats appeared on course to be extended to three games.
However, two goals inside the final 20 minutes earned a brilliant win for the visitors, who have now recorded five victories from eight matches under Ismael.
Each of Barnsley's last half a dozen strikes have come after the 71th minute, a statistic which will be deemed as both a positive and negative by the club's fans.
His side's results are all that will matter to Ismael at this stage of the season, the most recent triumph taking the Yorkshire outfit nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Barnsley Championship form: LWWLLW
Bournemouth Championship form: LWWWDL
Team News
© Reuters
Ismael could hand a recall to Barnsley midfielder Matty James, who has started the last two matches among the replacements.
Luke Thomas and Dominik Frieser are alternatives to Victor Adeboyejo in the final third.
Sam Surridge is in line to feature in the Bournemouth XI after scoring as a substitute against Preston.
Lloyd Kelly and Philip Billing will also expect to be handed a recall by Tindall.
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt, James, Styles; Adeboyejo, Chaplin, Woodrow
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Smith, Mepham, Cook, Kelly; Lerma, Billing, Stanislas; Brooks, Solanke, Surridge
We say: Barnsley 1-1 Bournemouth
While Bournemouth ideally need to return to winning ways as soon as possible, they may have to settle for a share of the spoils at Oakwell. The Tykes have made a shrewd move in attracting Ismael to the club, and we expect the Frenchman to add another eye-catching result to his collection.
