Why Barnsley FC's next two cup games really matter to Daniel Stendel

An FA Cup tie with National League outfit Aldershot and what is effectively a 'dead rubber' in the EFL Trophy against Oldham Athletic offer not just the chance to end the Reds' painful 11-match winless run in all competitions, which stretches back to September 2.

The importance of both home games is two-fold as the Oakwell outfit seeks to gain confidence at both ends of the pitch.

Defensively, Barnsley's goals against record was the joint-fourth worst in League One, heading into Tuesday night's programme.

In terms of goals scored in the third tier, only four clubs had scored fewer than the Reds, who have scored more than one goal in only one league fixture so far this term.

For head coach Stendel, whose side's xG expected goals figure is remarkably the third best in the division behind only Stockport County and Huddersfield Town, it's all a question of balance.

And while cups, in the greater scheme of things, don't retain much importance for the Reds in 2026-27 – given their league position – these next two home games still hold psychological weight.

Stendel, whose side has kept just one clean sheet in 17 matches in all competitions this season, said: "We have talked a lot about this in the last couple of weeks in terms of what is more important – to score goals or play for a clean sheet.

"I think it's not the one or the other, it's more the relationship between two things.

"When you score more goals, you think: 'okay, when we concede a goal, it doesn't matter if we can win the (next) goal'.

"But when you have the feeling maybe we only score one goal (in a game), you think that every goal we concede and every mistake can decide (games) again.

"This is what we have to change and it means not defence and not offence, it means both things together.”

Patrick Kelly has been named in Northern Ireland’s senior squad for their games against Ukraine and Hungary later this month.

The midfielder will miss the Oldham game and key league match at Wigan on November 14.

With no other international call-ups as it stands, the Reds’ trip across the Pennines to face fellow strugglers Latics is set to be played.