Burton boss Nigel Clough bemoaned bad luck after watching his team suffer a late sucker-punch at home to Ipswich on Saturday. Having dominated proceedings for the first hour, the Brewers saw their one-goal lead overturned by Bersant Celina’s late free-kick.
Albion’s players appeared crestfallen as they trudged off the Pirelli Stadium turf following the weekend defeat, their fourth from five games, with the Staffordshire side now without a success since mid-September. During Burton’s barren run they’ve managed just one goal in nine hours of action.
Clough might try and cod the media into believing his plucky Brewers have been unfortunate thus far but the performance data couldn’t be any more damming. No side’s attempted fewer shots and no Championship club has faced more efforts than Burton – and it’s a similar story when viewing on-target strikes.
However, arguably most alarming is Burton’s dreadful open play data. Albion are averaging just over 0.50 xG from open play – comfortably the worst in the division – and also facing a league high 1.80 xG from open play. Abysmal figures.
Barnsley might not be boasting earth-shattering data of their own but the Tykes are slowly starting to put together a series of positive performances, even if results haven’t always told the full story.
On Saturday, Paul Heckingbottom’s crew collected a well-earned point at local rivals Sheffield Wednesday with Barnsley displaying outstanding adaptability to switch between a 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 system to counteract the Owls. Harvey Barnes bagged the leveller to enhance his burgeoning reputation at Oakwell.
Adam Jackson damaged his cruciate knee ligament in the encounter and will be replaced by Angus MacDonald at the back but Zeki Fryers is back to full fitness and Lloyd Isgrove has also returned to the fold to give Heckingbottom options in his small but capable squad.
It’s only three losses in nine now for the visitors and the Tykes have avoided defeat at Wednesday, Preston and Millwall in their last four road trips whilst falling to a stoppage-time defeat at Wolves. Only once on the road have Barnsley failed to score and a solitary strike should at least earn the guests a point here.
I’ll be backing Barnsley with a +0.25 Asian Handicap start (7/9 BetVictor) – Burton have failed to take maximum points in 19/30 (63%) home outings since promotion – but more ambitious punters may fancy supporting the Tykes in the Half-Time/Full-Time market at 4/1 (William Hill).
Burton have conceded the opening goal in 15 of their last 20 home matches. Combine that with Barnsley’s record at bottom-six clubs – four wins in five, three of which saw the victors lead at the interval – and you might have the crux to something a little meatier this midweek.
Burton v Barnsley – Barnsley +0.25 Asian Handicap (7/9)
However, arguably most alarming is Burton’s dreadful open play data. Albion are averaging just over 0.50 xG from open play – comfortably the worst in the division – and also facing a league high 1.80 xG from open play. Abysmal figures.
Barnsley might not be boasting earth-shattering data of their own but the Tykes are slowly starting to put together a series of positive performances, even if results haven’t always told the full story.
On Saturday, Paul Heckingbottom’s crew collected a well-earned point at local rivals Sheffield Wednesday with Barnsley displaying outstanding adaptability to switch between a 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 system to counteract the Owls. Harvey Barnes bagged the leveller to enhance his burgeoning reputation at Oakwell.
Adam Jackson damaged his cruciate knee ligament in the encounter and will be replaced by Angus MacDonald at the back but Zeki Fryers is back to full fitness and Lloyd Isgrove has also returned to the fold to give Heckingbottom options in his small but capable squad.
It’s only three losses in nine now for the visitors and the Tykes have avoided defeat at Wednesday, Preston and Millwall in their last four road trips whilst falling to a stoppage-time defeat at Wolves. Only once on the road have Barnsley failed to score and a solitary strike should at least earn the guests a point here.
I’ll be backing Barnsley with a +0.25 Asian Handicap start (7/9 BetVictor) – Burton have failed to take maximum points in 19/30 (63%) home outings since promotion – but more ambitious punters may fancy supporting the Tykes in the Half-Time/Full-Time market at 4/1 (William Hill).
Burton have conceded the opening goal in 15 of their last 20 home matches. Combine that with Barnsley’s record at bottom-six clubs – four wins in five, three of which saw the victors lead at the interval – and you might have the crux to something a little meatier this midweek.
Burton v Barnsley – Barnsley +0.25 Asian Handicap (7/9)
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