Walsall v Barnsley - Sky Sports

The Premier League moves over this weekend allowing room for Barnsley to showcase their talents and claims for automatic promotion live on Sky Sports. Opponents Walsall should give them every chance to do so, and with Sunderland just two points behind and holding a game in hand, it’s paramount they do the job against the Saddlers.

Starting with the hosts, it’s significant to note that they actually collected 22 of their 42 points for the season in their opening 12 matches. 1.83 points per games in other words over that initial spell, followed by just 20 point in the next 26 matches – a rate of just 0.77 per game. Hardly great preparation for playing a side as good as Barnsley.

The Tykes have lost just once in 2019 – going down to a single 90th minute Chris Wood Penalty against Premier League Burnley in the FA Cup. Prior to that you go all the way back to December 8th for their last defeat. In truth the FA Cup defeat was probably for the best, and they come here bang in form.

I’m never a fan of backing odds-on away from home, but the last ten game shot table is compelling. Barnsley’s 19-5 goal difference has been achieved by taking 175 shots (next best is Luton’s 142) and facing just 76 shots (division best and only five sides are <100 over that spell). They lead the table on both shots on target for and shots on target against. In the same table, Walsall have taken a league worst 77 shots over 10 matches and managed just 33 on target. With those numbers I’m all aboard Barnsley.

2.2pts Barnsley to win at Walsall at 8/11 (General)

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