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Barnsley began 2021 with a 1-0 loss at Championship leaders Norwich City on Saturday.
The Reds missed a fine early chance in an even first half but the Canaries were on top after the break and took the lead just after the hour-mark.
Barnsley are now ninth in the table, three points off the play-off places and 15 clear of the bottom three.
Their tally of 34 points at the halfway stage of a Championship season is the joint best since the 1999/2000 campaign.
Valerien Ismael made two changes from the side that beat Rotherham United on Tuesday. Captain Alex Mowatt dropped out of the team due to his positive Covid-19 test, with Herbie Kane replacing him in central midfield while Luke Thomas came in for Victor Adeboyejo.
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Valerien Ismael is expecting Barnsley to play at Rotherham United tomorrow and knows they will have to improve their defending from set pieces in order to record their tenth win under him.
The Reds are currently tenth in the Championship, five points off the play-offs, while Rotherham are 21st but have had their last two games called off due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in their camp. The 7.45pm kick-off at the New York Stadium is currently on.
Ismael told the Chronicle: If we play, we are ready and focused. We are in a good rhythm. But, if we don’t play, we have more time to prepare the next game and work on our principles. Both situations are good for us. But we are preparing to play the game.”
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EARLY GOALS EVENTUALLY COST REDS
Jamal Lowe’s goal after 75 seconds meant the Reds had conceded in the second minute of back to back games and gone behind within five minutes athree times in a row.
They had come back to win the previous two but never truly looked like doing so again as an adequate first half performance was followed by a poor second half display.
Although this side has plenty of character, they are handicapping themselves with these sloppy starts. Jack Walton made an early error at Hillsborough then, in the next two games, he has seen his side concede a set piece almost from kick-off which has led to a goal.
3:02pm
Second time in as many games they have gone behind in second minute, third time in a row conceded in the first five minutes. They have been excellent at comebacks recently though
3:02pm
The goal was a cross from the right, flicked on by a Swansea header and Lowe was totally unmarked about six yards out then fired past Walton
3:06pm
A reasonable response by the Reds, who have had a fair bit of the ball since conceding without creating a chance
3:08pm
8 A bit of a scare for Swansea as goalkeeper Freddie Woodman s kick if blocked by Woodrow but it goes behind