Andreas Winkler says Barnsley are looking forward to taking on Sunderland, who they could leapfrog into the second automatic promotion place with victory on Tuesday night.
The third-placed Reds are two points behind the Black Cats who they meet at the Stadium of Light. Coach Winkler said: “We’re looking forward to this match. It’s a massive stadium with a lot of supporters. We are happy to have this match because that what football is about. I don’t know if it is our toughest match but it is our biggest chance because everybody knows that, if we win, we will be second.
“Sunderland have lots of experience and quality. They have a lot of composure and they know how to beat a team. They don’t take many risks because they know they have the quality. They have massive resources but it’s not up to me to talk about that. They are a very good side.
“At the beginning of the season, me and the gaffer (Daniel Stendel) went to the Stadium of the Light when they beat Scunthorpe 3-0. It was not a match of high pace but it was all about their composure and the way they controlled the game.
“It won’t be a problem for us to play in a stadium like that, it will be a motivation. We are taking about 1500 supporters which is perfect. It is really a very good game for us.”
Winkler is looking for a significant improvement on the performance against Doncaster Rovers when the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Saturday. He said: “I haven’t seen us have less control in any game. We can’t play like that again and we we were lucky not to lose in the end.”
Winger Ryan Hedges suffered a broken toe during the game against Doncaster Rovers and is likely to miss the rest of 2018. His place in the starting line-up is expected to be taken by Mamadou Thiam while Zeki Fryers could return from suspension in place of Dani Pinillos at left-back. Striker Cauley Woodrow was rested on Saturday and, after scoring off the bench, could return to the side in a 4-4-2 for Mike Bahre who played in a 4-2-3-1 on Saturday.
Barnsley won 1-0 at Sunderland on New Year’s Day with Ethan Pinnock netting the winner. He said: “It’s a massive game. They were relegated with us last season. All the boys are really up for it and looking forward to it. We’re hoping we can leave there with the three points.
“It’s still early doors but you want to be in the places you want to finish in as soon as you can so it would be nice to beat them and get up to second.
“I forgot that I scored the winner there last season. It was a good moment for me. It’s one of the highlights of my career because I had come a long way from non-league football to score the winner at the Stadium of Light. If you had told me I would do that a few years ago I would have said: ‘what are you talking about?’”
