How Barnsley’s record after 38 games in 2021/22 compares to last season

About six weeks ago, Barnsley’s hopes of Championship survival were hanging by a thread but some impressive form in February and March has given them fresh belief.

With eight games left to play, the Oakwell outfit are five points adrift of safety and need to close that gap on 21st-place Reading to have any chance of staying up.

Were the Tykes able to retain their second tier status, the 2021/22 campaign would have to be viewed as a success and Poya Asbaghi would deserve significant credit but whatever happens it will not be able to measure up against last term.

2020/21 was an unforgettable season for Barnsley as they shocked everyone by surging up the table in the second half of the season to secure a place in the Championship play-offs under Valerien Ismael – eventually losing out to Swansea City in the semi-finals.

With a crucial six weeks ahead, we’ve taken a look back at the same point last season to see how their record compares.

The Tykes currently sit 22nd in the Championship, which is 17 places lower than they were at this point in the 2020/21 campaign.

The Yorkshire club had risen to fifth on the back of a points tally of 64, which is nearly double their total at the same point in the current season (28).

After 38 games last term, Barnsley had won exactly half of their 38 games – 13 more than the six they’ve won this time around.

Ismael’s Tykes were not just better at avoiding defeat than the current team – losing just 12 times in comparison to the 22 defeats they’ve suffered in 2021/22 – but it seems they also had more success turning draws into wins.

At this point last season, they’d drawn just seven games, which is three fewer than they have this term.

Barnsley’s goal difference through 38 games in 2020/21