Tomorrow's hosts Fulham are the most difficult side to play away from home in the Championship, says Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

The London club have more wins and points away from home than at Craven Cottage and lost their last match there against leaders Brighton. But that was a first home defeat in six games, a run which included 5-0 thrashings of top four sides Reading and Huddersfield.

The Cottagers are one of Barnsley's direct rivals in the race to catch up with the top six as they are two places and two points behind the Reds in tenth, with a game in hand.

"It's going to be tough," said Heckingbottom, whose side have picked up 19 points from their last ten away games in the Championship which is more than Barnsley managed in the whole of their last full season at this level. "Fulham are arguably the best team at home in this league.

"I watched their game against Brighton and they were really unlucky to lose.  Brighton had long spells without the ball but they were clinical when they got the chances.  We know we are going to have to be set up right at the back, be patient and work as hard as possible to stop a good Fulham side."

Barnsley have not lost in London in seven trips across more than three years since Scott Wiseman's own goal at Millwall in November 2013. As well as the two Wembley victories last season, they gained an epic 3-2 victory at Millwall and drew 0-0 at Leyton Orient under Lee Johnson in 2015. They even triumphed at Charlton Athletic just before relegation in 2014. On their previous journey to the capital this season, the Reds beat Brentford 2-0.

Barnsley have only won three of their 17 trips to Fulham since the Second World War, losing nine, and they were spanked 5-1 on the last visit in 2000. The Cottagers got promoted that season and spent 13 years in the Premier League but have finished 17th and 20th in their first two seasons back in the Championship after relegation.

Heckingbottom says the 4-2 home defeat to Fulham in October was one of his side's worst displays of the season. It was an important result for Slavisa Jokanovic's men as it ended a seven-match run without victory and got them back into regular winning form, which they continued with a 2-1 FA Cup success at Cardiff City on Sunday.

Only Oakwell has witnessed more Championship goals than Craven Cottage this season. Fulham have two former Barnsley loanees. While David Button is an ever-present in league games, midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe has not played since October.