A look ahead to the final fixture of 2023 as Peterborough United welcome Barnsley to the Weston Homes Stadium on Friday 29th December (7.45pm).
Peterborough United entertain Barnsley at the Weston Homes Stadium on Friday 29th December (7.45pm) with Darren Ferguson’s men looking to end 2023 with a positive performance against one of the division’s in-form sides.
The Tykes go into the game looking to force their way into the top six following a 3-2 victory at Port Vale on Boxing Day while Posh will be looking to end the year in the automatic promotion slots following a 2-2 draw with Reading earlier this week.
TEAM NEWS
Posh goalkeeper Will Blackmore remains the only player currently on the sidelines with a hip injury and he is also away from the club due to a family bereavement. With this the third fixture over the festive period, Darren Ferguson could shuffle his pack with David Ajiboye and Ryan De Havilland both pushing for starts.
The Tykes also have options should they choose to freshen their pack with Sam Cosgrove pushing for an inclusion, although it is unlikely Devante Cole and John McAtee will be displaced in attack with the former the club’s top scorer and the latter fresh from bagging a brace at Vale Park.
ONE TO WATCH
Devante Cole (pictured below) is the Tykes leading marksmen and his pace and power is a constant thorn in opposing defences. A talented forward who can operate all across the frontline, Cole rejoined the Reds in the summer of 2021. The versatile striker began his career in the youth system of Manchester City and in 2014 he arrived at Oakwell on loan, making his first professional appearance as a Reds player as well as grabbing his first senior goal.
Unfortunately, his 'second coming' at Barnsley barely got going under either Markus Schopp or Poya Asbaghi, with Cole limited to the occasional sub appearance as the Reds limped their way to the third tier in 2021/22.
It was a different story the following year, playing week in, week out in Sky Bet League One, Cole would spearhead the Barnsley frontline, scoring 16 goals as the Reds unluckily lost out on promotion in the Play-Off Final at Wembley.
FROM THE MANAGER
“Barnsley are in good form and have a lot of players who can hurt you, but as with every game, we are fully focussed on how we can hurt the opposition. The performance against Reading wasn’t a bad one, there are things we could have improved on, but generally I was happy. We know we are good at home,” Darren Ferguson said.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are on sale at www.theposhtickets.com and via the Weston Homes Stadium Box Office on the day of the game. Barnsley have sold just over 1,000 tickets and will be accommodated in the away section of the North Stand. The Deskgo Stand is closed.
POSH+
The game is available to watch on Posh+ for domestic and overseas subscribers with £10 match passes available. Audio passes are available for £5 domestically. Nilesh Patel and Chris Dowsett are on commentary.
HEAD TO HEAD
Posh were 3-1 winners at Oakwell earlier in the season with Kwame Poku among the goal-scorers.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
There have been a few connections down the years including on the Posh coaching staff with Dale Tonge a former Barnsley player. Grant McCann also played for both clubs during his playing career and current PSL joint-manager Luke Steele spent a period at Oakwell.
Among the others to have featured for both Posh and Barnsley include: Miles Addison, Ben Alnwick, Lloyd Isgrove, Craig Ireland, Callum Elder, Ian Hendon, Arron Davies, Wayne Bullimore, Tom Kennedy, Ivan Toney, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Emile Sinclair.
MATCH OFFICIAL
Adam Herczeg is the match referee.