Next Up: Exeter City vs Barnsley

City’s performance level improved on Tuesday night but a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham saw the end of the EFL Trophy adventure for another season. A tricky run of fixtures continues on Saturday with the visit of another side tipped to compete near the top albeit in poor form and currently outside the playoffs. Gary Caldwell as expected made a number of changes to his side on Tuesday, issuing a challenge to compete for first team spots with league form currently below par. However, it’s expected that Caldwell will revert back to the tried and tested against Barnsley, although there are considerations around areas such as the left centre back role, where Ed Francis competes with Ben Purrington with Johnly Yfeko still missing. Elsewhere Reece Cole again appeared from the bench as he comes back from the niggle that kept him out for several weeks, while Demetri Mitchell also came on against Birmingham, with both hoping for more minutes on Saturday as Caldwell needs as many bodies to call on as possible ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Having missed out again in the playoffs last season, Barnsley were tipped to return to the top six if not amongst the favourites for automatic promotion, but Darrell Clarke’s side goes into Saturday in 8th place after a poor run of form that has seen them fail to win their last six matches in all competitions including a penalty shoot out defeat to Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup. Like City, however, that poor run includes defeats to Wrexham and Birmingham in their last two matches – both sides who comfortably put City to the sword in recent weeks, so the Tykes will be looking to Saturday’s long trip to Devon as an opportunity to shake off their poor form. Adam Phillips is the top scorer with six in all competitions (five league), while summer signing from Mansfield, Davis Keillor-Dunn has five.

This fixture last season saw away wins on both occasions – Barnsley snatched a late win at the Park through McAtee, but City’s improving form in the new year saw a 2-1 win at Oakwell – City led 2-0 through Aitchison and Cole before de Gevigney pulled one back late on. City have won three of the four matches since the sides have been in the same division for the first time in more than 40 years, extending the league head to head lead to 12-8, with four matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Scott Tallis
Assistant Referees: Richard Morris and Justin Amey
Fourth Official: Oliver Spender

Scott Tallis took charge of Exeter’s game at home to Cambridge in October which City won 1-0. So far this season he’s taken charge of 14 games, dishing out 59 yellows and 1 red.

Interview with Gary Caldwell

Interview with Ed Francis