The two sides face each other for the first time in nearly two decades at Oakwell on Tuesday evening.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference and quoted by the club’s official website, Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed his excitement ahead of his side’s clash with Aston Villa and outlined his expectation for a great atmosphere.
The two clubs were two divisions apart last season, but the Tykes go into the fixture 10 places above Villa, having settled into a new division with a greater ease than their more illustrious opponents.
“It should be great,” the 39-year-old is quoted as saying by the club’s official website. “I hope the performances from both teams matches it because then we will have a real high tempo and loud noisy atmosphere.”
Conor Hourihane
Heckingbottom was given the manager’s job on a permanent basis in the summer after leading Barnsley to promotion via the play-offs from a caretaker role last season, and both he and his side have continued their progress into the second tier.
The standout result of their season so far was in a midweek fixture a fortnight ago, as the Tykes trounced Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Molineux.
Having beaten Rotherham United by the same scoreline in August, it was further evidence that Heckingbottom’s side are good enough to do more than just survive at this level.
Marley Watkins
“I know we’ve done well on Tuesday nights generally, at least in the time that I’ve been doing it,” the manager said. “We’ve really enjoyed them home and away so long may that continue. We try and approach every game the same and ask the same and they have been fantastic at it.”
The match sees Villa visit Oakwell for the first time since September 1997, when Ugo Ehiogu, Mark Draper and Ian Taylor scored their goals in a 3-0 away win.
It remains Barnsley’s only season to date in the top flight of English football, but if Heckingbottom can keep his impressive young side together it may not be their last.
Ian Taylor scored the last time Villa visited Oakwell
Conor Hourihane has been a particularly influential figure in Barnsley’s rise. Having scored 11 goals last season, he has three already to his name this season and brings class and solidity to the Tykes engine room – his recent call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad is just reward for his consistently excellent performances.
Heckingbottom’s attacking options are also the envy of many of his counterparts. Last season’s top scorer Sam Winnall has been joined by Tom Bradshaw – fresh from a 20- goal campaign with Walsall – and young loanees Ryan Kent and Adam Armstrong.
Armstrong, who is on loan from Newcastle United, claimed the headlines with a superb winner on his debut against Preston North End, whilst Kent has been borrowed from Liverpool and has become a key part of the Tykes frontline.
With this array of strikers along with Adam Hammill and Marley Watkins providing a considerable threat from the wing, it is little wonder that Barnsley are the division’s top scorers with 19 goals.
Sam Winnall
Despite an indifferent start to life in the Championship, Villa represent an impressive scalp and one which Barnsley will be confident of claiming.
The likes of Hourihane and Armstrong will relish pitting their wits against players with Premier League experience, and in their current form there is no reason for them to feel they cannot come out on top.
The match represents a good test for just how far Barnsley have come under Heckingbottom.
The defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday was arguably their first really disappointing performance of the season, so they will be aiming for a positive response against Roberto Di Matteo’s side, who themselves haven’t won away since the opening day of last season.
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