Barnsley Preview

Spackman, who was given the job earlier this year after the departure of Dave Bassett, has not had the start to his first full season that he would have ideally liked. So, with Barnsley having just four points from a possible 12, it gives Town the perfect opportunity to beat a side that has failed to keep a clean sheet in the league so far this season...

After signing from Crystal Palace in 1999, Kevin Miller (left) has firmly established himself as the Tykes number one stopper. The commanding keeper, who in fact trains with Town's Danny Coyne, was signed by former manager Dave Bassett in a £250,000 fee. Over the three years that he has occupied the number one jersey, Miller has more than repaid this fee with some heroic goalkeeping between the posts. This has made it extremely difficult for new signing Andrew Marriott to displace him. Signed this summer from Sunderland, after finding first team games hard to come by, Marriott has been brought in for some much needed cover after the retirement of David Watson. Town fans will probably remember Marriott from the 1997/98 season when his man of the match performance and penalty save held Town to just a 0-0 at home to Wrexham.

Barnsley's defence often centres around the presence of veteran Steve Chettle (left), who was signed from Nottingham Forest on a free transfer in 1999. In that season, Chettle formed a very strong backline along with youngster Chris Morgan, with Morgan going on to attract interest from a number of Premier league clubs and scooping the Player of the Year award that season. The defence has been bolstered even more in the last few years with the emergence of youngsters Chris Barkerand Brian O'Callaghan who have provided manager Nigel Spackman with some food for thought at the back. Former Manchester City player Lee Crooks became Nigel Spackman's third signing for the Yorkshire club, after beating off competition from rivals Huddersfield Town for his signature. Unfortunately Crooks got injured almost immediately after signing for the Tykes, and so he missed the back end of last season, but after a successful pre season he is sure to play a big part in the Tykes division one campaign.

Combative midfielder Mitch Ward (left) is a player whose battling skills play an integral part of the Tykes engine room. Snapped up last summer for a £200,000 fee from Everton, Ward endured himself to the Barnsley fans with his 100% commitment and willingness to fight for the cause. Boss Nigel Spackman will hope that Wards enthusiasm and experience will rub off onto some of his younger players. One of these youngsters is Alex Neilwho was signed from Airdrie last summer for a modest £25,000 fee. Unfortunately Neil did not have the greatest of season last year and more than anything, struggled to find his favoured position. Hopefully his progress will be aided by the presence of experience first teamers such as Kevin Donovan (top), whom Town fans know all about, Dean Gorre, who was picked up for a bargain £50,000 fee from local neighbours Huddersfield, the experience Eric Tinkler and Welsh International Darren Barnard.

These players will be relied on to supply the ammunition for the strikers on Barnsley's books. One of these is Lee Jones, signed from Tranmere last season after the departure of Craig Hignett. But after having experiencing horrendous injury problems and loss of form, Jones has found it difficult to hold down a first team place. One person who has firmly cemented himself onto the Tykes teamsheet is big striker Bruce Dyer (left), whose pace and power is a telling factor and a thorn in many first division defences. His striker partner at the moment is ex Arsenal youngster Isiah Rankin who was Nigel Spackman's first signing for the Oakwell club. He, however, has stiff competition from ex Stoke forward Mike Sheron and the experienced Kevin Gallen, who was signed on a free transfer from Huddersfield after the sudden sale of Neil Shipperley.