Barnsley host Aston Villa in the Championship on Tuesday.
Sky Sports pundit Ian Holloway suspects Aston Villa have turned a corner following Saturday’s last-gasp draw against Newcastle United.
Aaron Tshibola headed his first goal for the club to deny the Magpies all three points at Villa Park, hoisting Roberto Di Matteo’s side up a place to 18th.
Villa, who were relegated from the Premier League for the first time in 29 years in April, have struggled to adapt to their new surroundings and are averaging a point per game so far.
However, according to Holloway, things could be about to pick up from hereon in – with Barnsley up next on Tuesday.
“Aston Villa may have turned the corner with that second-half equaliser against Newcastle on Saturday, where they finished the game on top,” wrote the former Football League boss turned Sky Sports pundit in his predictions column.
“If Newcastle had got another goal they would have been struggling, but the crowd came together, they seemed to lift each other and Roberto Di Matteo’s side were impressive in that second half.
“I think Villa will forge on from here and it will be tough for Barnsley.
“0-1.”
In contrast to Villa, Barnsley are newly-promoted this season and have been one of the division’s surprise packages, collecting 15 points from their opening nine matches to sit seventh in the standings.
The Tykes, though, appear to be on the slide, having suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two outings.
A win for the visitors would see them close the gap on their opponents to three points and lift them up to 14th depending on results elsewhere.
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