Barnsley v Bradford City: Conor Hourihane challenges players after Reyes Cleary 'springboard' - plus jealousy admission
MIXED bag is the only phrase to describe Barnsley's derby fortunes at League One level in 2025-26.
Wins at their two closest rivals in Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United have been offset by league defeats to both teams at Oakwell.
Honours were shared with one victory apiece for the Reds and Huddersfield Town in their meetings, while the reverse fixture against Bradford City ended in a value-for-money 2-2 draw.
That game will forever be remembered for Reyes Cleary planting himself on the EFL map with a goal of the season contender, with Hourihane hoping the stage is taken by someone in home colours on Saturday lunch-time in the Reds’ final White Rose derby of the campaign.
Hourihane said: "It was the springboard for the announcement of Reyes. He went onto have a really good kind of three/ four months after. This one should be a really good fiery Yorkshire derby.” The Reds boss has been mighty impressed by Bradford's feats on their return to the third tier, with their home numbers singled out for special praise, with the Irishman admitting to a pang of jealousy.
He added: "The biggest thing I’d probably say I’d have loved to have created - that Bradford have - is the home atmosphere/connection. "I think they've really got it going there. I know their numbers are something that I have seen (at Barnsley before), but maybe when we were in the Championship or in the play-offs in League One. "I understand that we're going to find that difficult to find them numbers right now, but they've had a very, very positive home record/attendances over the last two seasons. It's been one of the best atmospheres we've had on the road."