• Competition: England - League One
• Date: Saturday, 7th, September 2024
• Kickoff: 15:00 UK / 16.00 CEST
• Venue: Oakwell (Barnsley)

As both teams have kicked off their seasons on a positive note, Barnsley and Bristol Rovers will meet at Oakwell on Saturday afternoon for the fifth round of EFL League One action.

Since their departure from the Championship in 2022, Barnsley have made their ambitions of reclaiming second-tier status clear, but they’ve fallen short in the playoffs on both occasions, including last season’s heartbreaking 4-5 aggregate defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers. Judging by the start of the 2024-25 League One campaign, Darrell Clarke’s men appear ready to mount another promotion push, having claimed a respectable seven points from their first four matches, leaving them three behind league leaders Stockport.

In stark contrast to Saturday’s hosts, Bristol Rovers have endured rather dismal campaigns over the past two years, bringing them much closer to a drop into the English fourth division rather than a promotion to the Championship where they last competed in the 90s. Clearly, the Pirates are determined to make amends for their back-to-back lackluster League One seasons and make a notable climb up the table, with their season beginning on a positive note as they have gathered seven points out of 12 to position themselves in ninth place.

Barnsley vs Bristol Rovers Betting Tips: BARNSLEY TO WIN

While it’s true that both teams have amassed an equal number of points from their first four League One fixtures, there’s no doubt that Barnsley has demonstrated greater composure and confidence on the pitch, which is why we’ll back them to come out on top in a closely contested match. After falling 1-2 to Mansfield at the curtain-raiser, the Colliers have significantly stepped up their game by taking seven points out of nine on offer in their next three league fixtures and they aim to continue their ascent up the table uninterrupted. 

Although Barnsley has been denied victory in their first two home games of the new season, this could change here as they boast an outstanding record at home against Bristol Rovers, having triumphed in their last five straight encounters at Oakwell. Another sign that the Saturday hosts are closer to taking all three points is that the Pirates have been very poor travelers to date, not only failing to win any games but also ending up scoreless in all three of their initial away fixtures. With the advantage of playing at home, we believe that a motivated Barnsley will have too much quality for their Saturday opponents, who have been abysmal on the road and toothless in attack.