Barnsley hope to put up barrier to Rhodes

AFTER celebrating their 125th birthday party with a hard-fought draw against one of the promotion favourites, Barnsley will tonight try to prevent Jordan Rhodes marking his home debut for the Championship leaders with a goal.

The 22-year-old is already up and running in the scoring stakes after joining Blackburn Rovers from Huddersfield Town for £8m shortly before the transfer window closed last month.

Two goals against Bristol City on Saturday in only his second appearance means Rhodes will take on the Reds tonight with four goals to his name already in this season’s Championship after netting twice in his two games for the Terriers. Rovers manager Steve Kean is understandably delighted with his big-money capture and is looking for more of the same against Barnsley.

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He said: “You pay for class. I can’t remember him giving the ball away (against Bristol City). You get the ball to him and it sticks, he gets his chances and can score at ease.

“He is not even fazed, that is just what he does. He has the ability to always ask questions of the last defender and play off his shoulder.

“His movement is excellent and he will only get better. I felt he led the line very well, his finishes were class. When he went through on goal, we expected him to score and that is a mark of his class.”

Barnsley, who hope to have Mido back in two to four weeks, will look to claim a first away point of the season after losing 3-1 at Wolves and 5-1 at Brighton.

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Such form contrasts sharply with how Keith Hill’s men have fared at Oakwell with three games having yielded seven points, Blackpool claiming a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Last six games: Blackburn Rovers DWWLDW, Barnsley WLLLWD.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Last time: Blackburn Rovers 3 Barnsley 1; January 16, 2002; FA Cup.