UNITED AIM TO END OAKWELL HOODOO

UNITED AIM TO END OAKWELL HOODOO

Brian McDermott looks ahead to Barnsley trip...

United manager Brian McDermott is calling on his players to restore some pride at Barnsley on Saturday (3pm).

Oakwell has proved a particularly unhappy hunting ground in recent years. Last season’s 2-0 defeat was preceded by a 4-1 reverse on New Year’s Eve 2011 and a 5-2 defeat in September 2010.

Our last win at Oakwell was in November 1997, under the stewardship of George Graham, when we came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, Derek Lilley scoring the winner.

“We have to go and do our job on Saturday,” said the boss. “I know our history there isn’t great and we have to do ourselves justice and do it for our fans.

“We've had too many games where we have let ourselves down. We want to restore our pride. The club is back on an even keel and we have to look forward to these last four games.

“They're fighting for their lives, this is a derby, and we want to do well for the fans.”

Barnsley avoided relegation on the final day of last season, and the Oakwell club are once again threatening to stage their own version of The Great Escape. They have won three of the last six, and beat fellow strugglers Charlton in midweek to move within two points of safety.

They will go into Saturday’s game boosted by the midweek win, and will be backed by a vociferous crowd, hoping to maintain their recent run against United.

“It’ll be a good atmosphere, there’ll be a good crowd, and we will have a large following,” said the boss. “We have to handle that and we’ll look to do our best in a derby.

“Danny Wilson is a top bloke and a top manager. Barnsley won’t be looking for any sympathy about their position. We have to do our jobs and do what we have to do and get the right result.

“We expect a typical derby game. We have to be ready for a physical encounter, and we want to get to the points.”

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