Moira Stewart
04-12-2007, 14:54
Wolves travel to the land of black and white, whippets, smoke, cobbled streets and Warburtons tonight as they take on fellow high fliers Barnsley in an eagerly anticipated Championship clash.
Barnsley or ‘the tykes’ as they are affectionately known have been the surprise package of the championship campaign so far, confounding critics who expected them to be relegation certs and against all odds producing a challenge for promotion. They currently lie in 12th spot with 27 points to their name this season. Their home form is sensational, unbeaten at fortress Oakwell since the opening game of the season and with three wins on the spin they are formidable opponents in anyones book.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey may not even be a household name in his own home but has quietly assembled a squad high on quality on a shoestring budget. One of the stars of the Barnsley line up is flying winger Rohan Ricketts. The former Wolves star was a significant signing for the Oakwell men, with his high energy game and penetrating runs from midfield the Wolves defence will do well to keep him at bay. Another player to watch out for is prolific target man Kayode Odajaye. Odajaye has been likened to a tall Pele by some of the Yorkshire media after a string of impressive performances and the supporters cult hero will be looking to add to his one league goal already this season.
Barnsley can also look to celebrity supporter Darren Gough for inspiration. When Gough isn’t cavorting around the dance halls of great Britain, he likes nothing better than an Eccles cake or four and a trip to Oakwell to see if his boyhood heroes can bowl the opposition over. Another celebrity tyke is former politician Arthur Scargill, when Scargill isn’t leading his coal miners on strike or throwing darts, rocks and hot Bovril at the life size Maggie Thatcher poster in his bedroom he likes to keep abreast of the fortunes of his beloved working class Barnsley.
Wolves boss, the Barnsley born Mick McCarthy, will have split loyalties ahead of this big clash. He looks set to name an unchanged line up as his side go in search of a sixth straight clean sheet. Engimatic striker Freddy Eastwood looks set to keep his spot ahead of intense pressure from Andy Keogh.
An audience of 11,500 is expected at a raucous Oakwell including a noisy and boisterous following of 900 from the Black Country. Going into such a fortress Mick McCarthy is sure to tyke a point if offered.
Barnsley or ‘the tykes’ as they are affectionately known have been the surprise package of the championship campaign so far, confounding critics who expected them to be relegation certs and against all odds producing a challenge for promotion. They currently lie in 12th spot with 27 points to their name this season. Their home form is sensational, unbeaten at fortress Oakwell since the opening game of the season and with three wins on the spin they are formidable opponents in anyones book.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey may not even be a household name in his own home but has quietly assembled a squad high on quality on a shoestring budget. One of the stars of the Barnsley line up is flying winger Rohan Ricketts. The former Wolves star was a significant signing for the Oakwell men, with his high energy game and penetrating runs from midfield the Wolves defence will do well to keep him at bay. Another player to watch out for is prolific target man Kayode Odajaye. Odajaye has been likened to a tall Pele by some of the Yorkshire media after a string of impressive performances and the supporters cult hero will be looking to add to his one league goal already this season.
Barnsley can also look to celebrity supporter Darren Gough for inspiration. When Gough isn’t cavorting around the dance halls of great Britain, he likes nothing better than an Eccles cake or four and a trip to Oakwell to see if his boyhood heroes can bowl the opposition over. Another celebrity tyke is former politician Arthur Scargill, when Scargill isn’t leading his coal miners on strike or throwing darts, rocks and hot Bovril at the life size Maggie Thatcher poster in his bedroom he likes to keep abreast of the fortunes of his beloved working class Barnsley.
Wolves boss, the Barnsley born Mick McCarthy, will have split loyalties ahead of this big clash. He looks set to name an unchanged line up as his side go in search of a sixth straight clean sheet. Engimatic striker Freddy Eastwood looks set to keep his spot ahead of intense pressure from Andy Keogh.
An audience of 11,500 is expected at a raucous Oakwell including a noisy and boisterous following of 900 from the Black Country. Going into such a fortress Mick McCarthy is sure to tyke a point if offered.
