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Third-bottom versus fourth-bottom in the league table does not ordinarily smack of a game between two sides high on confidence.
Nor would a look at their respective home-and-away records – hosts Barnsley are searching for only their fifth win at Oakwell while Wanderers have just one victory on the road.
But both clubs have coaches who are steadfast in their belief they can stave off the danger.
Whites boss Phil Parkinson admits their current dry spell, with just one goal in their four-game losing streak, has come at the worst possible stage, just when they appeared set fair for a comfortable run-in.
But he insists they can pull off what would be an incredible feat, given their tally of two points from the first 11 matches.
“We’ve spoken to the lads about what we need to do in this particular game and if we do it I’m confident we’ll get the points,” he said.
“It’s not a good time to lose games but when you’re down at the bottom, which we have been all season, you have to take the knocks and keep responding and not let it pull you down too much mentally, that’s key for us and the supporters.
“We can’t let any baggage mentally be with us as we go into this away game – that’s players, management and supporters alike. This is one-off game, like a cup-tie, and we’ve got to go there with a freshness.
“This is a new game, the slate is wiped clean as we go into a fresh 90 minutes and we’ve got to be ready to earn the victory by implementing the plan throughout the game. The subs who come on have to influence the game in a positive way and if we do that I’m confident we’ll get the result.”
Meanwhile, Tykes assistant head coach Dimas Teixeira is in no doubt the Yorkshire side can, at the Whites’ expense, add to their confidence-boosting derby win against Sheffield United.
“Bolton are a direct opponent for us with three massive points for the team that wins,” he said while standing in for head coach Jose Morais at their press conference yesterday.
“We have five finals before the end and this is one. We expect to win but there are another four games after that and it won’t be over.
“The boys know, with the words and confidence we give them, that they are highly prepared and we will win this game for sure.”
Supporters of Reading and Birmingham will still face a few sleepless nights with their sides three points and one point, respectively, ahead of Wanderers.
Whichever side comes away from today’s vital match the happier, Parkinson believes nothing will have been decided over these 90 minutes, with his team still to play Wolves, Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest and the Tykes yet to face Leeds, Forest, Brentford and Derby.
“Even if it is five points after tomorrow, it won’t be over, we know that,” he added.
“Whichever scenario it will be, it’s not going to completely define the relegation battle but obviously it’s going to have a big say in it.
“This was always going to be a big game, I think everybody’s looked at it over the last few months and with them winning against Sheffield United it’s made that gap closer so it’s a big day for us, and for them.
“We’ve got to go down there and give it everything we can to come back with the points.
“We may have what people think is one of the easier run-ins but we’ve shown we can beat the top teams as well.
“Have we got a better run-in than other teams? It’s perhaps slightly more favourable but it won’t work in our favour unless we play at our very best consistently.”
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Nor would a look at their respective home-and-away records – hosts Barnsley are searching for only their fifth win at Oakwell while Wanderers have just one victory on the road.
But both clubs have coaches who are steadfast in their belief they can stave off the danger.
Whites boss Phil Parkinson admits their current dry spell, with just one goal in their four-game losing streak, has come at the worst possible stage, just when they appeared set fair for a comfortable run-in.
But he insists they can pull off what would be an incredible feat, given their tally of two points from the first 11 matches.
“We’ve spoken to the lads about what we need to do in this particular game and if we do it I’m confident we’ll get the points,” he said.
“It’s not a good time to lose games but when you’re down at the bottom, which we have been all season, you have to take the knocks and keep responding and not let it pull you down too much mentally, that’s key for us and the supporters.
“We can’t let any baggage mentally be with us as we go into this away game – that’s players, management and supporters alike. This is one-off game, like a cup-tie, and we’ve got to go there with a freshness.
“This is a new game, the slate is wiped clean as we go into a fresh 90 minutes and we’ve got to be ready to earn the victory by implementing the plan throughout the game. The subs who come on have to influence the game in a positive way and if we do that I’m confident we’ll get the result.”
Meanwhile, Tykes assistant head coach Dimas Teixeira is in no doubt the Yorkshire side can, at the Whites’ expense, add to their confidence-boosting derby win against Sheffield United.
“Bolton are a direct opponent for us with three massive points for the team that wins,” he said while standing in for head coach Jose Morais at their press conference yesterday.
“We have five finals before the end and this is one. We expect to win but there are another four games after that and it won’t be over.
“The boys know, with the words and confidence we give them, that they are highly prepared and we will win this game for sure.”
Supporters of Reading and Birmingham will still face a few sleepless nights with their sides three points and one point, respectively, ahead of Wanderers.
Whichever side comes away from today’s vital match the happier, Parkinson believes nothing will have been decided over these 90 minutes, with his team still to play Wolves, Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest and the Tykes yet to face Leeds, Forest, Brentford and Derby.
“Even if it is five points after tomorrow, it won’t be over, we know that,” he added.
“Whichever scenario it will be, it’s not going to completely define the relegation battle but obviously it’s going to have a big say in it.
“This was always going to be a big game, I think everybody’s looked at it over the last few months and with them winning against Sheffield United it’s made that gap closer so it’s a big day for us, and for them.
“We’ve got to go down there and give it everything we can to come back with the points.
“We may have what people think is one of the easier run-ins but we’ve shown we can beat the top teams as well.
“Have we got a better run-in than other teams? It’s perhaps slightly more favourable but it won’t work in our favour unless we play at our very best consistently.”
Source