Barnsley were crowned Champions of the Football League trophy during the first weekend of April. They overcame a one goal deficit at the break to win the match against League Two Oxford United by three goals to two. Since then the Tykes have won two, drawn and lost in the last five fixtures, including a last gasp victory over Peterborough United on Tuesday night. That win didn't quite put them into the top six, but Gillingham's draw at Rochdale (1-1) kept the Reds in 7th with only goal difference separating them and the Gills.
Arguably the Oakwell club have a more difficult run in than the Blades. Following the crunch match at Bramall Lane, Barnsley face Colchester United (home) who they themselves could require maximum points in their plight to survive the relegation drop before travelling to Wigan Athletic on the final day.
George Williams scored in the 89th minute to secure a vital 1-0 win for Barnsley against ten-man Peterborough in their pursuit of a Sky Bet League One play-off spot. Chris Forrester had controversially seen red for Peterborough two minutes before half-time, receiving two yellows within 20 seconds of each other after a face-to-face confrontation with Conor Hourihane.
The win puts Barnsley level on points with play-off rivals Gillingham, who drew 1-1 at Rochdale, but Barnsley had to play a patient game after seeing Posh goalkeeper Ben Alnwick deny them a number of times. The home side thought they had gone ahead shortly after Forrester's sending-off when Josh Brownhill cut in from the left and fired the ball towards goal, only to see Alnwick deny him.
The resulting corner was just as dangerous, Roberts nodding the ball into the same corner, only to be denied again. Just when the game looked destined for a draw, Williams made the Barnsley pressure pay, nodding in from Adam Hammill's cross with just minutes remaining.
Barnsley could be short of full-backs for the trip to S2 as James Bree, George Smith and Aidy White (formerly on loan at Sheffield United) are all struggling with injury. Teenager Bree, who won the League One Apprentice of the Year award on Sunday, Smith (both hamstring) and White (abdomen) all missed the goalless draw at Burton ten days ago and are unlikely to feature.
Fellow defender Callum Connolly has returned to parent club Everton and striker Marley Watkins has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his jaw.
Possible Tykes Line-Up (4-4-2):
Davies
Scowen - Roberts - Mawson - Williams
Isgrove - Brownhill - Hourihane - Hammill
Toney - Winnall
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Barnsley 0
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