Bristol City are in search for back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a struggling Barnsley an ideal opportunity to gain some consistency.
The Robins have struggled with putting together a good run of form this season which has left them 18th in the Championship table but a win against Blackburn Rovers on the weekend has improved the mood slightly.
Victory at Oakwell, which could be hard to come by given the last five matches between the two sides at that venue have resulted in a 2-2, would go a small way into giving something to be positive about in what has been a transitional season for the club.
Each game Nigel Pearson will want to win a match but with their position in the league all but safe, there’s a time to experiment and that is what he did at Ewood Park.
There has been an issue at right-back over the last few weeks with Sam Bell, a forward by nature, tried in that position. He copd well against Middlesbrough but against Birmingham City he was exposed through no fault of his own. The latest player to be tried there is Andi Weimann, statistically their best player this year with 17 goals and eight assists this year.
The Austrian has played mainly behind the attacking two of Chris Martin and Antoine Semenyo but has now reverted to playing as an attacking wing-back, a slightly deeper position than where he played in the earlier stages of his career.
This could be an option for the short-term but Pearson is keen to improve players in roles and making them the best they can there. If Weimann is to play that role long-term then playing him there again will be the likely option.
1. GK: Daniel Bentley
Saved a penalty against Blackburn and has asserted himself back into the team. Photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images
2. READING, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Andreas Weimann of Bristol City celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Bristol City at The Select Car Leasing Stadium on August 17, 2021 in Reading, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
A goal from his new position, means that for now the Weimann wing-back experiment should continue. Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
3. CB: Robbie Cundy
After getting a clean sheet on his first start for City, it’d be good for him to continue with another game. Photo: Cameron Smith/Getty Images
4. CB: Timm Klose
In the absence of Tomas Kalas, Timm Klose is the experienced presence amongst the three centre-backs. Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images