Happy Tykes memories for Mick as Oakwell hosts Blues
The Blues’ boss returns to his hometown club on Saturday and while he admits his memories of six years at Oakwell are happy ones, he’s looking for another happy one with three points at the final whistle.
“I played close on 300 League games for the club and had six great years there,” recalled Mick to the Club website.
“They were successful years for me personally as well. We won promotion from the Fourth Division to the Third and then to the Second.
“I’ll be seeking out a few familiar faces there on Saturday and I hope Barnsley get out of the relegation places – but not at the expense of our promotion bid.”
Barnsley may sit in 23rd place in the Championship but Mick says that his Town side could be in for one of their hardest games of the campaign.
“Some people may think that we’ve had a tough run with QPR, Reading and Leeds and that for some bizarre reason, it won’t be as tough against Barnsley and Blackpool.
“That’s nonsense. They could be our hardest games of the season. Barnsley were much better than us in the second-half at our place and deserved to win so we know what to expect on Saturday, another really testing 90 minutes.”
Barnsley will be without Jacob Mellis and Emmanuel Frimpong. Both were sent-off in their defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and are suspended. Bobby Hassell could return for the Tykes after a spell out injured.