Aston Villa vs Barnsley. Sky Bet Championship.
Villa ParkAttendance26,435.
Tuesday 14 February 2017 08:11, UK
Aston Villa will be without Mile Jedinak and Gabby Agbonlahor as they look to end their Sky Bet Championship slump against Barnsley.
Steve Bruce's side have picked up just a point from their six league games in 2017, scoring just two goals in the process.
"We've got to improve in what we do with the ball," Bruce said. "But the big problem is we don't score enough. That is our big Achilles heel."
Team news
For Aston Villa, midfielder Jedinak is battling a groin problem while Agbonlahor suffered a hamstring injury in training last month. Former Tykes full-back James Bree, who joined Villa in January, is also a doubt after sustaining a knee injury in training.
But Jack Grealish is back from a ban following his red card in the 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
Barnsley will be without midfielder Josh Scowen, who is waiting to learn the full extent of his ankle injury sustained in Saturday's goalless draw at Reading.
Centre-half Adam Jackson will return to contention after missing out at the weekend due to illness and winger Ryan Hedges is hoping to make his first start. Midfielder Alex Mowatt serves the final game of a three-match ban and defender Aidy White is still out with a pelvic injury.
Opta stats
Villa have lost just one of their 13 league meetings with Barnsley (W8 D4), however only one has taken place in the 21st century (this season's reverse fixture - 1-1).
Goals from Jordan Ayew and Sam Winnall resulted in the 1-1 draw last September; however both have since left the clubs in question.
Aston Villa have won just one point in the league in 2017, the joint-worst tally of any Football League side along with Leicester, Coventry and Leyton Orient.
The Tykes have drawn their last two league games 0-0 - they haven't drawn three goalless in a row since January 1912.
