Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday predicted score, key stats, verdict and suggested bets

League One, Tuesday, March 21, Kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports

Barnsley 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday to draw

Barnsley vs Sheffield Wednesday under 2.5 goals

Sheffield Wednesday are undefeated in their last 23 L1 matches

Barnsley have seen under 2.5 goals in 11 of their last 13 matches against Sheffield Wednesday in all competitions

Sheffield Wednesday have only lost three times in L1; one of those defeats was to Barnsley

Barnsley have won 12 of their 17 home games in L1

L1: Sheff Weds 0-2 Barnsley, September 2022

CH: Barnsley 1-2 Sheff Weds, March 2021

CH: Sheff Weds 1-2 Barnsley, December 2020

CH: Barnsley 1-1 Sheff Weds, February 2020

CH: Sheff Weds 2-0 Barnsley, August 2019

Devante Cole could come back into the side after being benched at Wycombe. Max Watters could be the player to drop out, while James Norwood should start. Barnsley have no new issues. Robbie Cundy is currently sidelined but Josh Benson and Bradley Collins were back at Wycombe.

George Byers is 50-50. Reece James and Josh Windass should be ok after picking up knocks. Lee Gregory went off with a knock after his surprise start and he will be hoping to get the nod again - if not, Michael Smith will start. Dominic Iorfa is available after serving a one-match ban against Bolton.

Barnsley have won seven of their last eight L1 matches

Sheff Weds have won five of their last six L1 games, but were held at home by Bolton last time out

Barnsley have won two of their last three L1 games without conceding a goal

Sheff Weds have won three of their last four L1 games away from home 1-0

Michael Duff after win at Wycombe: "It wasn't a great game, we weren't brilliant. I think we've shown a different side to us. We've been free-flowing and free-scoring recently, but we weren't at our best. We didn't use the ball well enough. But, the growth from the group; the resilience and spirit."

Darren Moore after the draw with Bolton: "We tried (to win). We got the goal and then got pegged back. I thought for a good hour it was both trading blows without giving much away.

"We didn't get the rub of the green but we stay committed and we continue this run. Tuesday is a nice local derby for us now and we'll approach that together."

Only Ipswich have better form than these two Yorkshire rivals heading into Tuesday's titanic tussle.

Wednesday have been beaten just three times all season and hold the best away record in the division, winning 10 times and claiming four draws. They are also in good form having won five of their last six in the league - but they were well held by Bolton last time out.

Still, Darren Moore's men are in the box seat to win the title with a couple of games in hand on their nearest rivals Plymouth and Ipswich.

Barnsley actually did Wednesday a favour recently, defeating Plymouth 3-0 at Oakwell to get their fans dreaming of an instant return to the Championship.

Second-half goals from Adam Phillips, Mads Andersen and Nicky Cadden saw Barnsley home against a strong Plymouth side, who are better on their home patch. The Tykes allowed the majority of possession to their visitors and saw Plymouth record considerably more passes, but the hosts were the more dangerous and made their attacking play count.

Wednesday, despite their league position, are not a team that dominates possession and in fact they have an average of less than 50% away from home.

It could well be a game in which neither team really wants to dominate the ball and leave themselves open on the counter-attack.

The added spice of a derby game means this one is going to be a close-run affair. Despite their superb away record, the Owls have only netted 20 away goals - but they have only conceded nine. A string of 1-0 wins away from home has powered them towards the Championship. But when they have been pitted against the better sides, they have tended to concede.

They lost 2-1 at Plymouth in October and drew 2-2 at Ipswich, whilst also earning a 0-0 draw at Derby. They have tended to take on the flat-track bully role and Barnsley might just give as good as they get.

After three straight defeats without scoring at the start of the year, Barnsley have been on a terrific run of form. But there is a similarity in their results. Those defeats came against Bolton at home, fancied Derby away in the FA Cup and at Charlton. Again the Tykes struggled against the better teams, with play-off chasing Bolton proving a good yardstick.

The Trotters have caused both teams problems and if that is anything to go by then Oakwell could well see the Yorkshire rivals well-matched and a draw looks the likely outcome.