Aston Villa v Barnsley: Conor Hourihane reunion underlines Reds' progress

Tom Bradshaw beats Jack Price to a high ball in
Barnsley's recent game with Wolverhampton Wanderers. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson) — Tom Bradshaw beats Jack Price to a high ball in Barnsley's recent game with Wolverhampton Wanderers. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

Just 19 days after leaving Oakwell, Barnsley’s former captain renews acquaintances with his old club, with a knee injury likely to prevent James Bree from also being handed a quickfire reunion with the Reds following his recent move.

Ahead of Barnsley’s first league appointment at Villa Park since March 1998, the visiting fans will at least be enthused by viewing the Championship table, which sees the Reds six places and 10 points better off than the Midlands club, who are without a win in 2017 after six defeats in seven matches.

Despite that disparity, Reds head coach Paul Heckingbottom admits that he fully understands why Hourihane elected to make the switch to Villa Park and says that he would have done the same in his shoes – with the move effectively setting him up financially for life.

Heckingbottom – likely to be without injured midfielder Josh Scowen, while Alex Mowatt serves the final game of a three-match ban – said: “Conor saw it as a massive opportunity.

“But money has got a lot to do with it with the figures that players can earn in this league, never mind the Premier League, compared to those we were paying. It was outrageous and it is a short career and of course, I could understand it. If I had been a player at this moment in time with the same decision, I would have probably done the same.”

One Reds player has particular incentive to deepen the gloom for the hosts in the shape of striker Tom Bradshaw, with several of the former Walsall forward’s relatives being fervent Villa followers.

Keen to find the net in front of a number of family members, he said: “The pressure was always applied on me to be a Villa fan when I was younger.

“I went to probably ten to 15 Villa games as a kid when I was with my uncles and saw them in the glory days of the Premier League finishing in the top half.

“To be going there with Barnsley is a big thing for me personally and something I am proud of. As long as I don’t score against my uncles’ club!”

Last six games: Aston Villa LLDLLL Barnsley LWWLDD.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Aston Villa 0 Barnsley 1; March 11, 1998; Premier League.