Sheffield Wednesday were another side that earned all three points away from home in last weekend’s opening day of this new Championship season when they registered an impressive 3-1 win away at Reading.
However, although they return to Hillsborough for their first home match of the season, there’s an extra edge to this clash as they face Barnsley in what is an all-Yorkshire tussle.
Having finished last season’s campaign in the Championship on a losing note (a 2-1 loss at home to QPR), Sheffield Wednesday have since bounced back during their pre-season as The Owls have won 5 of their 7 warm-up matches.
The hosts will therefore be in a much more positive frame of mind ahead of this weekend’s fixture, where they’ll be looking to capture possible back-to-back wins to boost caretaker-manager, Lee Bullen.
Bullen took over the reigns from former coach, Steve Bruce, following his departure to take over the helm at Newcastle United, and another win over Barnsley today would do his chances no harm at all.
It’s interesting to note though that 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two sides have ended in draws, all by a 1-1 score line.
Barnsley caused something of an upset on the opening day of their Championship campaign last weekend when they registered a 1-0 home win against highly-fancied Fulham.
Barnsley enjoyed a triumphant campaign in League One last season as they achieved automatic promotion back up to the Championship at the first time of asking, with manager, Daniel Stendel, quickly making a name for himself at the club and in the lower leagues.
The visitors will be hoping they can emulate the efforts of another Yorkshire club that went all the way up to the Premier League in the shape of Huddersfield Town, but would obviously aim to stay there.
There’s a long way to go to realise this lofty ambition, but Barnsley made a great start last weekend, and another win at Hillsborough would certainly send a statement of intent.
Barnsley seem to have tightened up defensively since their last Championship campaign which ended in disastrous fashion as The Tykes were relegated season before last.
Stendel will be desperate for his side to make big improvements in their results away from home considering that they lost their last 6 away matches on the trot in their last stint in the second tier.
Being a Yorkshire derby and early in the season, this could well end up another draw between these two sides.