Barnsley vs Norwich Match Preview

Saturday, 26 February 2011
Npower Championship
Barnsley v Norwich 15:00




Npower Championship
Venue: Oakwell Date: Saturday, 26 February Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website



TEAM NEWS
Barnsley are set to give late fitness tests to midfielders Nathan Doyle (calf) and Jacob Mellis (hamstring).

Hugo Colace remains sidelined after tearing an abductor muscle in training, and skipper Stephen Foster is still out with a leg injury.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert must decide whether to bring midfielder Andrew Surman back into the starting line-up.

Surman has been used as a substitute three times since his recent recovery from a knee injury.


MATCH PREVIEW
Norwich, who are fifth in the table, have won 11 league matches this season by a single goal - more than any other team in the Championship - and have netted eight goals in injury time.

But they were unable to dig out a dramatic winner against Doncaster in midweek, much to the frustration of Canaries fans - some of whom barracked their side during that game. So often able to produce last-gasp goals, Norwich have had the tables turned on them recently, conceding late equalisers against Doncaster and Leeds.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins, a former Norwich player, has seen his team go four matches without a win. But they are strong at Oakwell, where only promotion chasers Leicester and Cardiff have managed to win this term.

Norwich will want to match that, and the East Anglian club tend to do well against Barnsley. They are unbeaten in 10 matches against the Tykes, having won eight of them. Robins' side have managed only one victory in their last six league matches - and that was against bottom club Preston.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• Norwich have won 14 and Barnsley eight of the 33 previous league matches between these clubs.

• Barnsley's last win against Norwich was a 1-0 victory in August 2000.

Barnsley

• The Tykes have taken two points from the last available 12.

• They are unbeaten in four home matches.

• Barnsley have conceded 17 Championship goals this season in the final 15 minutes of games - more than any other team.

• Nathan Doyle is hoping to make his 100th league start, while Jason Shackell could face his former club.

Norwich

• Norwich have won six of their last 12 matches, losing only one.

• They have failed to score in only four Championship games this season - a feat bettered only by Leeds.

• Wes Hoolahan is set to make his 100th league appearance for the Canaries.