Scowen is attempting to make up for lost time

The Barnsley midfielder left Buckinghamshire just over 12 months ago and one of the things that he was forced to forsake in the process was being part of a side who made it through to the League Two play-off final.

Now a place at the home of football is on the horizon and can be claimed if Scowen and the Reds can safely negotiate tonight’s second leg at Fleetwood.

If a place is booked, it would complete a remarkable few months for the club and their supporters, who have been put through the mill in a roller-coaster 2015-16.

Scowen, born not too far from Wembley in Enfield, said: “It is everyone’s dream to go and play at Wembley and we have got a massive chance to play there now.

“We will be giving it everything.

“Everyone wants to play at Wembley, so it would give everyone a massive boost.

“That will be good for us and the fans deserve it as they have stuck with us through the worst times of the season, and it would be nice for them to have a day out in London at Wembley.

“You are so close to Wembley and everyone wants to play there.

“I missed out with Wycombe last year after signing here, so, hopefully, we can get there.”

The tie is on the proverbial knife-edge after the first leg at Oakwell last month that ended deadlocked at 1-1 and the smart money is on another hard-fought and tense affair ensuing on the Fylde coast tonight.

Scowen, whose tenacity and energy have made him a firm favourite since joining the club, admits the tie is finely poised but, equally, he is confident of progression.

It is not misplaced faith either with the Reds having won their past six League One games and boasting a seven-match unbeaten streak, which has helped turn around their season from something close to resembling the depths of despair.

Scowen added: “It’s a massive challenge and a good test for us. We have played them twice already this season and, in the form we are in right now, we can beat anyone in this league and I think we can go and beat Fleetwood.

“I don’t think there are favourites in cup games as they are one-offs. I think it will be even and, hopefully, we can impose our game on them and, if we can play as we have been recently, I think we will come away with a win.”

While the Reds are winning their collective battle to turn around their campaign, Scowen has his own individual mission in hand to re-establish himself in the Reds’ line-up.

Standing in his way is in-form midfielder Josh Brownhill and Scowen admits he has a fight to regain his starting spot after three substitutes appearances on his return from knee trouble.

Scowen said: “It’s a great turnaround and the gaffer has brought in some good players such as Adam Hammill, Aidy White and Josh, which helps, and it has given us a massive boost in the squad.

“If we can keep ourselves together going forward, that’s always good. Keeping Josh, who has been playing really well, is good and Sam (Winnall) is at his best at the moment and, hopefully, he can keep scoring the goals.

“Josh has come in and we haven’t lost a game since and there’s nothing I can really say or do. But I will keep trying my hardest in training to try and get in the gaffer’s eyeline and when my chance does come, I will try and grab it with both hands.”

Given the tight margins between the sides in the first leg at Oakwell and in the league game in South Yorkshire on October 24, which Fleetwood edged 1-0, plus two nip-and-tuck meetings last term, the potential for a penalty shootout is considerable.

But if it is does go to a sudden-death climax, which will kick into place if the two-legged tie is still level after 90 minutes with no extra time, Scowen will be one of the first to volunteer, if he is on the pitch.

Manager Lee Johnson, while mindful of a shootout possibly coming into the equation tonight, would much rather his Reds side avoided that nerve-shredding drama by booking an April 3 final date with Oxford United in more straightforward fashion.

But if needs must, he is confident that his players will have the necessary ice in their veins to step up and be counted, with his main concern being that Barnsley do not freeze during normal time after an unconvincing performance in the first instalment at Oakwell.

The Reds’ head coach said: “I did feel we froze in the first game a little bit, if I am honest. I know we had a few disruptions to the team on the day, but we didn’t play as fluently as we have recently. It is a case of doing what we have doing well in recent games.”

Last six matches: Fleetwood LWDDDL, Barnsley WDWWWW.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Fleetwood 0 Barnsley 0; September 14, 2014; League One.