Bristol City vs Barnsley – kick-off time, tickets, live coverage, head-to-head record and everything you need for Ashton Gate clash All you need to know, including club form, recent meetings and our verdict If we can grab a win against Barnsley on Saturday they’ll be virtually assured of Championship survival. They already have a four point buffer over Blackburn Rovers and three points more than Forest, as well as a point to spare as they sit above Birmingham. One more win would require all those three to win their remaining matches for the Robins to drop a division – highly unlikey Indeed head coach Lee Johnson has urged the team to look upwards and try to finish the season as high up the table as possible. QPR remain catchable just above them in the table. And with the match coming against his former team Johnson will be especially eager to get the maximum reward from Saturday’s game. The Robins’ home form has been the bedrock of their escape from the drop zone. It’s now one defeat in the last eight games at Ashton Gate, with three wins in a row against Huddersfield, Wolves and QPR. Barnsley have had a solid season and will also be motivated to get the win over their former boss, but with another good home crowd behind them, City should have enough to bury any lingering relegation fears. What time is kick-off and how can I keep up to date with the match? The game kicks off at 3pm . How is City’s recent form? At home it’s becoming thoroughly decent. Just one defeat in the last eight home games, and only three goals conceded in their last five at Ashton Gate. Johnson’s team have also scored a respectable nine goals in those last three victories. Things are much different away from home, of course, where it’s just three wins on the road all season, although a creditable point was gained up at Ewood Park last Easter Monday to keep their noses above the waterline of relegation. And it could be the right time to face the Tykes, who only have one win in their last six games, and who come off the back of a loss to Wigan and home draw against Brentford. With the likes of Tammy Abraham in fine fettle, and Jamie Paterson putting in some performances of note recently, the Robins have the tools to get the job done this coming weekend. What is the team news? please log in to view this image The only new injury concern (at the time of writing) for Bristol City is Aaron Wilbraham who picked up a late knock against Blackburn (knee). However, Milan Djuric has been back in first-team training for a week now, following his recovery from a hernia operation, and would make the perfect deputy if club captain Wilbraham fails to recover. The former Parma and Cesena striker missed out on a place in the squad for Blackburn, but might be recalled to play a part against Barnsley. Meanwhile, Gary O’Neil still remains side-lined with a grade two hamstring injury and he’ll be lucky to play again this season. Johnson will likely stick with the same side who have won the last two home matches, and look to use Tomlin, O’Dowda or Djuric from the bench. Meanwhile, Barnsley will be missing the injured Aidy White and Adam Hammill. What happened the last time the two sides met? The last three matches have been a 2-2 draw. Before that City won 5-3 at Ashton Gate in 2013 and Barnsley won 1-0 in the game at Oakwell of the same year. Lee Tomlin was the star man for City at the end of October as he knocked home a penalty and set up Tammy Abraham as the Robins responded to Marley Watkins’ (a transfer target for City) 21 minute goal. Alas they couldn’t hold on to their lead and Adam Hammill netted an injury-time equaliser and that precipitated an abysmal run of 12 defeats in the next 13 games. Thankfully things are much different for Johnson and co now and the Tykes are likely to face a side that has become more experienced and that was strengthened in the January transfer market. The south Yorkshire side may also be missing a few key players due to injury. Are there any tickets left? There are no tickets available on the day for this one, but there are still tickets left. Anyone who wants to attend will have to pick one up from the club before the day of the game. City, meanwhile, are hoping for another good crowd of more than 20,000. What’s been said? Lee Johnson was disappointed that his team hadn’t been able to take the three points against Blackburn, saying that he was particularly impressed by his midfield and strikers who worked hard to keep Rovers at bay. “Our midfield four were outstanding, and the two strikers worked their socks off and that’s what we need to do to be competitive,” said Johnson after Easter Monday’s game. “Our young players will get better and better.” “We return to Ashton Gate next and we’ll need another big crowd behind us,” he explained ahead of Barnsley’s visit on Saturday. Bristol Post verdict Bristol City have the motivation of knowing that a win would pretty much seal their stay in the Championship for another year. With the home crowd roaring them on they’ll have a fine chance. However, this will be a good test of their application and consistency, and Barnsley will not want to get turned over by former boss Johnson. A score draw might be the case here, with four wins in a row at home being a step too far for the Robins currently. Bristol City v Barnsley preview: Mark Little struggling for City (Latest) Bristol City have several injury concerns for the home game against Barnsley which could secure their Sky Bet Championship status. Full-back Mark Little may miss out after being forced off with a hamstring problem in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Easter Monday. Strikers Aaron Wilbraham (knee) is also doubtful, while veteran midfielder Gary O'Neil is rated 50/50 after being sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury. Victory will keep the Robins in the second tier for another season as long as Blackburn lose at Wolves. Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom is expected to choose from an unchanged squad. Heckingbottom has no new injury or suspension problems, while midfielder Alex Mowatt and striker Adam Armstrong are pushing for recalls. Winger Adam Hammill (toe) and defender Andy Yiadom (shoulder) are still unavailable, but centre-half Adam Jackson could return to contention. Defender Aidy White (pelvis) and midfielder Sessi D'Almeida (knee) remain long-term absentees as the Reds bid to finish the season in the top half of the table. Match facts Bristol City have netted two or more goals in 11 of their last 12 league encounters against Barnsley, scoring 30 goals, an average of 2.5 per game. The last three league matches between these two sides have all ended 2-2. The Robins have lost only one of their last eight home league games (W4 D3) and won each of their last three, last recording four in a row in the Championship in February 2013. Barnsley's Josh Scowen is the player to have won the most fouls in the Championship this season (101). Lee Johnson was in charge of Barnsley between February 2015 and February 2016, managing 51 games - however, Johnson has never beaten the Tykes as a manager in all competitions, drawing one and losing one as Oldham boss and drawing 2-2 in the reverse of this fixture earlier this season. The Tykes have managed only six wins in 58 away league games against the Bristol clubs (City and Rovers), drawing 14 and losing 38. In fact, they haven't won a league game away in the city of Bristol since October 1993 (13 games there since).
A win today and there is a high chance we will be safe as it's difficult to see Burton, Brum and Blackburn getting anything other than beaten this weekend. Forest are 50/50 as it depends what team Reading put out as they almost certainly cannot get promoted now and are safe for the play offs.
What a load of ****e on the Barnsley board - not a football thread in sight. I popped over there to check out their opinions but it looks like a bunch of primary school kids tittering about 'rude things'.
Bristol City FCVerified account@bcfctweets 37s38 seconds ago #BRCvBAR: Fielding, Little, Flint, Wright, Bryan, Brownhill, K.Smith, Pack, Paterson, Abraham, Taylor. #BristolCity
Bristol City FCVerified account@bcfctweets #BRCvBAR subs: Giefer, Magnusson, O'Dowda, Reid, Hegeler, Tomlin, Djuric. #BristolCity
Hoping for a win, lose and it really is squeaky bum time,hope wolves do the business. If not last game against Brum, and Cotterill is going to be a dodgy encounter.
Wow.....sounded like a close one. Sat on the sofa at the end refreshing my phone every 30 seconds. With Forest & Burton winning today, this was a huge result. Pity that Brighton didn't wrap up the title last night.....we're in for a tough time at The Amex and a hiding might still make us a bit nervy if Blackburn somehow get a win.
2 losses in 10 games. 10 points from last 12 available - that's promotion form. It's almost a shame to end the season now we are on form!
I think Brighton will want to sew up the title at home in front of their supporters and who would grudge them that honour? Thank goodness we don't have to win our last home game to stay up.
