Barnsley v Middlesbrough

The turnaround at Middlesbrough under Chris Wilder has been remarkable. Since taking the helm on 7^th November 2021 with Boro 14^th in the Championship, a run of nine wins, three draws and three defeats has lifted Wilder’s side into play-off contention. They currently sit 7^th, just a point outside those desired places, ahead of this weekend.

Struggling Barnsley meanwhile have found themselves in the relegation zone since October and bottom of the table since late December. Two wins in their last three games, one at home to Queens Park Rangers and the other away at Hull City, have given the Tykes hope of pursuing that current nine-point gap to safety, however.

The task presented to Barnsley by Middlesbrough though is a huge one. The visitors have collected the joint most points in the Championship across their last 10 games, tied with both Fulham and Luton Town on 22 points from a possible 30. Barnsley on the other hand are 21^st in the league over that same period, with just seven points accumulated.

It was a 2-0 win at the Riverside Stadium for Middlesbrough when these two met back on 20^th October, with both teams having a different man in the dugout to what they have now. Middlesbrough have noticeably improved as a team since then, Barnsley haven’t.

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Peterborough v Hull City

The Posh’s return to the second tier hasn’t been a positive one. Now 10 games without a win, Peterborough’s last victory came by a 2-1 margin at home to Millwall back in December, and it has lead to the club’s place in the Championship relegation zone looking cemented for a long period. Darren Ferguson’s departure has seen the arrival of another former boss, Grant McCann. The 41-year-old Northern Irishman will want to get to work quickly on sorting out the league’s joint leakiest defence. Peterborough have conceded 63 goals in their 32 games so far.

The arrival of McCann throws up an interesting narrative for this game. He guided Hull City up to the Championship as League One Champions last season, and his tenure with the Tigers came to an end in January following the club’s takeover by a Turkish consortium. The new era began well with three straight wins, the last of which came under current manager Shota Arveladze, but Hull find themselves without a win in their six games since and averaging less than a goal a game in that time.

Hull City have already suffered defeats to Derby County and Barnsley, the other teams which make up the relegation zone, during February and now find themselves against their former league-title winning boss who should be keen to get the better of them here. Defensive solidity is badly needed at London Road though.

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Cardiff City v Fulham  

History was made on Wednesday when a brace from Aleksandar Mitrović took his tally to 33 goals for the season. In the process, the Serbian surpassed Ivan Toney’s Championship-era tally of 31 goals in a single season, and Guy Whittingham’s tally of 42 league goals for Portsmouth in 1992-93 feels within reach. Mitrović’s 33 goals contribute 41% of Fulham’s league tally of 81 this campaign and leaves the Cottagers averaging 2.5 goals a game so far.

Hosts Cardiff City have spent a large chunk of the season in the places not too far above the relegation zone, but with a relatively comfortable points gap. Four wins in the Bluebirds’ last seven games has helped keep Steve Morison’s side out after a prior winless run of six games. Four consecutive games unbeaten at the Cardiff City Stadium could provide further motivation ahead of the league leaders coming to town.

When Fulham lost to Sheffield United on the 20^th December, they proceeded to score 19 goals in their next three league games. After defeat to Huddersfield Town on the 19^th February, Fulham responded with two goals in a win over Peterborough United. The phenomenal goalscoring return of mid-January isn’t likely to repeat itself here, but Fulham goals always feel a possibility this season.

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Millwall v Sheffield United

Millwall find themselves seven points off the play-off places as the final third of the season gets underway. Recent form that includes three straight wins, four wins in their last six games and four games unbeaten at home, provides a reason for fans of the Lions to feel optimistic. Since the beginning of 2022, Gary Rowett’s side have failed to score on just one occasion, a goalless draw at the Den with Preston North End at the start of February.

Under Paul Heckingbottom, Sheffield United find themselves in even better form. Unbeaten in nine games, with six of those ending in wins, the Blades have climbed from 12^th to 6^th in under two months. Draws away at Huddersfield Town and at home to Hull City have been the only occasions in those nine games where Sheffield United have failed to score. The form of Billy Sharp, now up to 12 for the season, is particularly noticeable as well.

This weekend’s fixture at the Den is a meeting between two sides at the right end of the form table and both capable of finding a way through the opposition’s defence. The possibility of at least one goal each should be fancied.

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