At Barnsley, starting with four at the back and some match facts

I don't even remember the last time we won away from Villa Park and I've made the mistake in the past thinking that we'd win, even this season once or twice, so I'm not counting any apples today. But it would be nice.

And sorry to bring up the basics again, but just because I think we should doesn't mean that the manager should start with three at the back.

We must start with four at the back and we must have players playing in positions that they are familiar with. And I know we purchased quite a few players in the summer and I also knot that games come thick and fast in this League, but the manager has to find his formation and find his preferred eleven and stick with it.

Sure there will be times that some players need a rest and sure, seeing as we purchased players that in essence will be playing in the same position, but these are the basics and you can't keep all the people happy all the time. It will build confidence and this next part might just be me, but don't you get used to playing with the same players a certain way?

I know that might sound very 80's but to me, it just makes sense. All these new formations and squad rotation should be done after we've got that winning run and confidence is brimming. Right now, the manager is digging a hole for himself. <7P>

But then I come back and I think, surely we should beat Barnsley.

Updates, team news and some facts

So with that written, I leave for my day, but some facts follow and I'll be back later with updates. I fancy ... that's it, I'm stopping.

• Barnsley have only scored twice in six home league games against us - the last Tykes scorer against us at Oakwell was Darren Foreman in 1988.
• We have won seven of the eight visits to Barnsley in all competitions, drawing the other.
• We have won just one of the nine league games under Roberto Di Matteo (D6 L2).
• Barnsley have lost their last two league games; they've not suffered three consecutive defeats since November 2015 (eight games).