by Neil Weld
If you are struggling to remember Pompey’s trip to Oakwell last season then don’t worry, you are probably not alone.
Barnsley won an instantly-forgettable game 1-0, with Adam Hammill – now at Wolves – scoring the game’s only goal after 13 minutes.
That was the Blues’ first visit to the Tykes’ home for nine years. It was a more memorable game in 2001, though, thanks to a dynamic display from Robert Prosinecki.
The Croatian genius was even applauded by the home fans when substituted late on after inspiring Pompey to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 victory, helped by Lee Bradbury’s brace and goals from Jamie Vincent and Peter Crouch.
Memorable for different reasons was the Oakwell clash in 1999 when Pompey had Andy Awford and Fitzroy Simpson sent off as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat.
Barnsley currently sit a comfortable 14 points above the Championship’s bottom three in 16th position.
But Keith Hill’s side go into Saturday’s clash with Pompey on the back of consecutive away defeats at Watford and Burnley.
They were victorious in their last game at Oakwell, though – a 3-2 win over Derby at the end of January.
Barnsley’s form on their own patch is mixed, having won seven and lost six in their 15 league games at home this season.
They have taken maximum points from matches against Coventry (2-0), Burnley (2-0), Hull (2-1), Doncaster (2-0), Crystal Palace (2-1), Leeds (4-1) and Derby.
But the Tykes have been beaten at Oakwell by Southampton (0-1), Middlesbrough (1-3), Bristol City (1-2), Ipswich (3-5), Blackpool (1-3) and Millwall (1-3).
And Barnsley will have to do without 12-goal top scorer Ricardo Vaz Te who left for league leaders West Ham on transfer deadline day last month.
However, they have kept hold of Craig Davies and Andy Gray, who have notched nine and eight goals respectively this season, while Jacob Butterfield has added another five from midfield.
Pompey will be trying to improve an away record that has seen them win just twice on their travels this term.
They have been beaten nine times away from Fratton Park, but only two of those losses have been by more than a single goal.
And the Blues will be buoyed by the fact that they have taken four points from their last three away games, courtesy of a 3-0 victory at Peterborough and 1-1 draw at Blackpool.
A threadbare squad with several senior players out injured hurts Pompey’s chances of picking up three points this weekend.
Liam Lawrence (calf), Kelvin Etuhu (hamstring), David Norris (hernia) and Luke Varney (knee) are all on the sidelines, with Ricardo Rocha (calf), Joel Ward (hip) and Greg Halford (knee) all doubtful.
But victory at Oakwell would provided a much-needed lift to Pompey and briefly take everyone’s mind off problems away from the pitch.