Middlesbrough v Barnsley Preview

Tonight, the reds welcome Neil Warnock’s Boro side as the pressure clamps up on Head Coach Markus Schopp.

The Tykes are on a terrible run of form with 4 defeats in a row and are without a goal in open play for 8 games. The Austrian will be desperate for a win as the fans are turning quickly. Another manager who needs a win is Neil Warnock. The 72-year-old has become under pressure from the Boro fans who believe the squad is more capable than they are seeing. Barnsley will hopefully be boosted by the return of Callum Styles for tonight’s away Trip. Also, Obbi Oulare’s wait to make his Barnsley debut could come to end tonight as he was passed fit by Markus Schopp. However, they will still be without Josh Benson, Liam Kitching, Mads Andersen, and Carlton Morris.

Last time out the Tykes were condemned to another defeat at Reading thanks to a John Swift goal, the performances was a little better, but the reds continue to lack any cutting edge in the final third. Markus Schopp spoke to the media yesterday. On the reading defeat: "I saw some good sequences, we had a lot more interesting moments with the ball, we had 16 chances, but again, if we don't take our chances and we switch off, you get punished in this league” On Boro: "They're a good side, they have good physicality, and a number of good players in certain positions. Neil Warnock is a name I knew even when I was in Austria, so I know what to expect from his team” Young defender Jasper Moon also spoke to the media ahead of the game, on belief in the squad: "The self-belief is still there, it's the same players pretty much that finished 5th last season. We still have confidence and I think we showed we can compete with Reading, a side in good form” On disgruntled fans: "We know they're unhappy and we've seen some of the comments. But we don't focus on any of that. We all know our roles, it's October now and we've had time to adjust to the new style, it's just about getting the results now. Will Barnsley finally find a winning formula or will Markus Schopp’s job become more untenable?