Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley: Tykes on 'revenge mission' to atone for postponement

Doncaster chairman John Ryan stirred up feelings by controversially claiming his Rovers side and Barnsley rather than the two Sheffield clubs would be the region's dominant forces next season.

Rovers are already the area's top Championship club after their victory at Oakwell was followed by Sheffield United's home defeat to Scunthorpe United on Sunday.

Rovers are six points off the play-offs and one ahead of the Blades, while Barnsley, who would have been level with Rovers with a win on Saturday, have been steered into mid-table security since Mark Robins arrived in September.

But it is the fate of Sheffield Wednesday that is of more pressing concern with them being just five points above the drop zone at the wrong end of the season.

Both Barnsley and Doncaster can aid Alan Irvine's Owls in their fight against relegation by defeating Plymouth Argyle over the next five days.

The Pilgrims have made little progress and are next to bottom, seven points adrift of Wednesday but with a game in hand.

That spare game is tonight and comes about due to the original encounter against Barnsley at Home Park in November being abandoned after 58 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch with the Reds leading 4-1.

Robins was left seething by referee Gavin Ward's decision, claiming: "I don't think he would have made the same decision if the score was the other way around."

However, the Barnsley manager said ahead of tonight's encounter: "It's a revenge mission and it's a danger as well. The expectation is there because we were winning 4-1 but that game is dead and buried.

"We have got to go down there with the pressure on us wanting to do well and wanting to go on and win the game.

"If we go down there expecting to take the three points we will come away with nothing. It's how we respond and I expect a strong reaction."

His comments came after Barnsley were consigned to a third successive defeat as James Coppinger's goal provided a 1-0 win for Doncaster, who travel to Home Park on Saturday.

Robins has no intention of suffering a fourth straight defeat for only the second time in his managerial career – his Rotherham side went out of the League and FA Cups and suffered two League Two defeats during a

12-day spell in November, 2008.

"It's been a decent season up until now but you have to try and guard against the complacency of thinking the job has been done," he said.

"The players certainly need reminding that the season is not over until the final whistle of the final game of the season. I keep saying it and I am sick of saying it.

"The abandonment at Home Park was difficult to take at the time but we are totally focussed on winning this time. It will take every ounce of effort for us to get a result against a team fighting for their lives. We do not want to finish mid-table. We want to be higher than that. We have to go there and be ready for an all-out assault from a Plymouth side fighting for their lives.

"We are still fighting, too, and let's not forget that Plymouth came here and beat us 3-1 last month. We have to go there and put that right."

Robins, who is down to 18 fit players, could well give a starting role in midfield to club product Jacob Butterfield, 19, who impressed as a second-half substitute on Saturday and the manager will assess if 14-goal top scorer Daniel Bogdanovic is fit to start. The Maltese international is struggling with an ankle injury but had to be pressed into action in the first half on Saturday when Filipe Teixeira suffered a stomach strain.

Utility defender Bobby Hassell, who missed the Rovers game after taking a number of knocks in the midweek encounter at Bristol City, may also be pressing for a recall.

Plymouth, under former England striker Paul Mariner since the sacking of ex-Owls chief Paul Sturrock in December, suffered their ninth home defeat on Saturday against Ian Holloway's Blackpool.

They also lost a trio of midfield players in Carl Fletcher (knee), Luke Summerfield (hamstring) and groin victim Alan Judge, who scored the opener in the abandoned encounter, during the 2-0 defeat and will be forced into changes tonight.

Last six: Plymouth LDWLWL, Barnsley LDWLLL,

Last time: Plymouth 1 Barnsley 2, May 3, 2009, Championship

Referee: MP Russell (Herts).

Blades in brewery deal: Business Post.