FA CUP PREVIEW: Wanderers v Barnsley

Wanderers kick off their 2022/23 Emirates FA Cup campaign when they face League One rivals Barnsley at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The two sides drew three weeks ago and meet again in search of a place in round two.

The Whites will play in their special centenary kit which has been made to replicate the strip the club wore when winning their first FA Cup at Wembley in 1923.

Manager quotes

Ian Evatt: “It’s another game and another opportunity to win a football match.

“We want to win as often we can. We’re in a good position in the league.

“We’re in the top six, which is where we want to be, but we want a cup run as well and hopefully that can start on Saturday.”

Barnsley manager Michael Duff: “We know them quite well. It's as tough a draw as we could have probably got, I reckon. I think they've got one of the best home league records in the league.

“It was a really tight game down there. There wasn’t a lot of chances for either team. We're going there to try and win the game.”

Team news

Wanderers will be without wideman Lloyd Isgrove and defender Will Aimson.

Isgrove is facing three or four weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Aimson will be sidelined for around a fortnight longer with a similar problem sustained in a B team game last week.

Midfielder MJ Williams collected a fifth yellow card of the season against Oxford United last Saturday but is eligible with a one-game ban covering next weekend’s League One fixture at Cambridge United.

Barnsley have no new injury concerns but are still without long-term absentees Matty Wolfe, Jordan Helliwell and Luke Thomas.

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Form guide

Wanderers’ four-match unbeaten run was ended with a 3-1 defeat to Oxford United last Saturday.

The Whites had taken seven points from their previous three league games, starting with a 0-0 draw at home to Barnsley three weeks ago.

Barnsley – eighth in League One – collected their first win in five league games with a 2-0 home victory over Forest Green last weekend.

The win also brought the Tykes their first goals in four games from a run starting with the goalless draw at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Wanderers will be looking to reach round two for the first time since 2019, while Barnsley start out at this stage for the first time since a 1-0 defeat at non-league Altrincham in November, 2015.

Officials

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Assistant referees: Wayne Grunnill, Declan Ford

Fourth official: Aaron Bannister

Kick-off

Saturday 2pm

Tickets

Tickets are priced just £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and are available to buy for official club members HERE

Coverage

Live commentary will be available via iFollow and an audio pass available to buy HERE

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