"Saturday will see a good old fashioned Yorkshire derby between two great sides, both under the leadership of up-and-coming managers in Keith Hill and Simon Grayson, who like to pass the ball around the field. This is the first meeting between Barnsley and Huddersfield since that thrilling 3-1 victory (3-2 on aggregate) in the League One play-off semi-final in the Reds favour six years ago, goals from Paul Hayes, Daniel Nardiello and Paul Reid sending us on our way to the Millennium Stadium which would see us make our return to the Championship. Another meeting that sticks in the mind of Reds fans is back in November 1998 which saw Huddersfield thrashed 7-1 in front of the Sky cameras at Oakwell and most Terriers fans will be hoping for different scoreline."
"On to our start to the 2012/13 season, a busy summer at Oakwell saw nine players, including former Roma and Tottenham striker Mido, sign up for the Keith Hill and David Flitcroft revolution but a big blow was the loss of captain and star player, Jacob Butterfield, to Premier League Norwich City. After a positive start which saw us gain 11 points from the first two months of the season including a televised five nil thrashing of Birmingham City, the Reds come into this game off the back of three defeats and this could be mainly down to the loss of leading goalscorer Craig Davies, who scored four goals in that brilliant game which showed the work Hill and Flitcroft are doing at Oakwell."
"Its been more than a year since Hill was brought in from Rochdale, and his aim was to bring a neat brand of passing football, and since then it looks to be paying off with the players he has brought in and also the players he already had putting in more than a shift and showing the "endeavour" he wants from his players."
"We'll start from the front-line an as mentioned before, leading striker Craig Davies looks likely to miss out with a hamstring injury so it will be more than likely it will be veteran striker Marlon Harewood leading the line, which in all honesty looks a disaster as he has no pace and at the moment, he couldn't score in a brothel with five grand in his pockets. Hopefully after a goal against his former club Nottingham Forest the other week, it could bring a bit of confidence back and believe me, we need the goals. The only other options we have is Chris Dagnall who, despite all his hard work, is not a natural Championship goalscorer and 18 year-old Danny Rose, who in my opinion isn't quite ready to step up quite yet."
"Hopefully for our sake, Keith will have brought in another striker on loan before Saturday after missing out on Reading striker Simon Church to who else but Huddersfield."
"In the middle of the park, Saturday will probably see the return of winger Jim O'Brien who has missed the start of the season with a dislocated shoulder and it could also see a home debut for young Toni Silva, another summer signing who has missed out though injury. Three certain starters that could face the Terriers are Stephen Dawson, a dynamic workhorse of a player, Tomasz Cykwa, a very skillful playmaker with plenty of Championship experience with Derby and Reading, and Jacob Mellis, the kind of player that plays behind the striker and unlocks doors. In my opinion, Mellis will be the key player for Barnsley as his vision and passing is second to none. The only thing that hinders him is his consistency."
"At the back, this season has seen the introduction of 18 year-old academy graduate John Stones. You could ask any Reds fans who has been to most games so far this season, this lad is without doubt the best talent the club has produced for many a year. Already capped for the England under 19's and linked with a big move to the Premier League, this lad seems to have everything you want from a right-back. Pace, strength, a good tackle in him and when he attacks, he attacks. For most of the season so far, the back four has consisted of Stones, veteran Stephen Foster, stand-in captain Scott Wiseman (who has made the transaction of right-back to centre-back) and left-back Scott Golbourne, who in my opinion is very akin to Ashley Cole with his tackling as well as his forward play and crossing."
"Overall, despite a couple of blips, our defence has looked quite strong during the course of the season but the only thing that hinder them is the pressure they put on themselves and that could bring problems against a side of Huddersfield's calibre. Also, back between the sticks will be fan favourite Luke Steele, who has recently regained his place from Ben Alnwick after 6 months of injury hell. Call me deluded or whatever but I think Steele is one of the best goalkeepers, if not the best, in this league."
"For my prediction, I could call this two ways. It will all depend on who gets the first goal and at which time. My heart says 2-2. My head says 1-0 to the Terriers."
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