The Reds have not won a home match in League One for two months, with Gillingham being their last victims in a 2-0 victory. Having won at former club Oldham Athletic last weekend, ending a run of eight games without a single point they were down with a bang, despite their best efforts the Tykes were defeated three goals to two at Peterborough United's ABAX Stadium.
As mentioned, the Reds had gone 8 games without a win, concluding of 8 losses. Their baron run started on 3 October in a 2-1 defeat at local rivals Doncaster Rovers. Since then they have recorded defeats to; Crewe Alexandra (1-2), Southend United (1-2), Walsall (0-2), Fleetwood Town (0-1), Scunthorpe United (2-0), Coventry City (4-3) and Port Vale (1-2), they were also dumped out of the FA Cup by non-leaguers Altrincham (0-1).
New signing Miles Addison made an immediate impact as Peterborough scraped a 3-2 success over Barnsley. Defender Addison, who signed a short-term deal earlier in the day, conceded a penalty and headed a goal as Graham Westley's men closed in on the League One play-off places. Top-scorer Lee Angol fired Posh ahead on 24 minutes, but their advantage was wiped out seven minutes before the break when Conor Hourihane converted from the spot after Addison had tripped Marley Watkins.
But Addison, playing his first competitive game since May, went from villain to hero when restoring the Posh lead when heading in substitute Marcus Maddison's 62nd-minute corner. Maddison soon found the net himself with a deflected low blast 11 minutes later, but Barnsley quickly hit back when substitute Sam Winnall slammed in after the ball had twice struck the crossbar off the heads of Posh man Addison and Watkins.
But their hopes of climbing out of the drop zone were dashed when Kevin Long was dismissed with eight minutes to go for a two-footed challenge. The woodwork denied Angol and Jermaine Anderson from scoring further Posh goals late on while goalkeeper Ben Alnwick twice denied Adam Hammill in stoppage time.
The Tykes, who are one point better off than bottom of the table Crewe Alexandra will be without defender Kevin Long after the on loan Burnley defender, making only his second appearance, was shown a straight red card in the defeat at Peterborough. He is expected to also miss their JPT fixture at Wigan Athletic and at Colchester United on 12 December to suspension. Meanwhile winger Ryan Williams (groin) is side-lined through injury.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Barnsley 0 Sheffield United 1
