Exeter City host Barnsley at St James Park this weekend in a big weekend in League One. With both teams having strong starts to the season, a win this weekend will likely push the winning side into the Play-off places.
Exeter currently sit tenth in League One after 11 games with five wins, one draw and four losses, leaving The Grecians on 16 points.
In their last five games in all competitions, The Grecians have one win and four losses. In the Group stage of the Football League Trophy Exeter faced Reading. In a complete collapse, Tom McIntyre, Ben Elliot, Taylan Harris and Caylan Vickers all scored along with braces from Paul Mukairu and Dom Ballard and an own goal from Zak Jules in the 9 - 0 win for Reading. The next time out was another loss for Exeter. Ruben Rodrigues scored along with a brace of penalties from Cameron Brannagan gave Oxford United the 3 - 0 win.
However, fortunes changed in the Third round of the League Cup against Premier League side Luton Town. Demetri Mitchell scored late on and was sent off just five minutes later in the 1 - 0 win for Exeter. But it was back to losing against Northampton Town. Sam Hoskins and Patrick Brough both scored in the 2 - 0 win for Northampton.
The last game out was the midweek fixture against Charlton. Scott opened the scoring for Exeter but goals from Corey Blackett-Taylor and Miles Leaburn and a brace from Alfie May gave Charlton the 4 - 1 win with Will Aimson also sent off for Exeter.
Barnsley currently sit fourth in League One after 11 games. With six wins, one draw and four losses, Barnsley have 29 points, five adrift of automatic promotion.
In their last five games in all competitions, Barnsley have three wins and two losses. Portsmouth raced to a 3 - 0 lead with an early Colby Bishop penalty and goals from Paddy Lane and Connor Ogilvie. Barry Cotter and Callum Styles did manage to score, but it wasn’t enough as they slumped to a 3 - 2 loss. Styles scored again against Northampton Town along with Devante Cole and despite a 98th minute goal from Louis George Appere, Barnsley ground out the 2 - 1 win.
In the Football League Trophy Group stage Barnsley took on Manchester City’s U21 team. Conor McCarthy, Jon Russell and Emmaisa Nzondo all scored in the 3 - 1 win with William Dickson scoring for City. However, a penalty from Jordan Rhodes gave Blackpool the 1 - 0 win as Barnsley failed to register a single shot on target.
Their last outing was against Cambridge United in the midweek fixture. Nicky Cadden, Mael de Geviney, Max Watters and Jon Russell all scored in the 4 - 0 thrashing of Cambridge.
Exeter City and Barnsley have met just 22 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1964. The Grecians have the better record in the fixture with 11 wins in comparison to Barnsley’s seven wins, with the other four meetings ending in a draw.