Barnsley could move out of the relegation zone with a victory over Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

The Tykes have improved their form recently and will be confident of staying in the division if they can continue their increased regularity of wins.

Victories over fellow strugglers Millwall and high flying Nottingham Forest have been interspersed by a disappointing drubbing at the hands of Huddersfield Town and a forgivable defeat to runaway league leaders Leicester City on Tuesday.

They now sit just two points from safety with a game in hand over 21st-placed Millwall, although their fate remains out of their own control as Yeovil Town also have a game in hand over the Lions while Charlton have played three games fewer than both Barnsley and Yeovil.

However, if they can keep up their recent rate of winning every other game at a crucial time of the season then that should be enough to see them climb away from danger.

Of course, that is easier said than done for a team that has won just six games all season, while their goal difference of -28 could also prove costly in a tight battle against the drop.

It is a particularly big ask for Danny Wilson's side to continue that run away from home, where they have amassed a pitiful league-low total of eight points all season.

They have only won once on the road in the league since last February, while they have failed to score in five of their last seven away outings.

Jim O'Brien has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while Wilson is also likely to be without Martin Cranie and David Fox for the match.

Watford's slim hopes of reaching the playoffs were all but ended on Tuesday when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Doncaster, leaving them 10 points behind sixth-placed Reading.

Giuseppe Sannino may still harbour slight hopes of making a late push given that his side have a game in hand over the Royals, but four of the five teams directly above them have also played fewer games, so it would take a freak set of results for them to sneak in.

The Hornets may be better served turning their attention to next season now as Sannino looks to challenge for the top six in his first full season in charge.

A spell of inconsistency looks to have set Watford on their way to an unremarkable end to this campaign, although they will be keen to hold on to a top-half finish.

There has been nothing unremarkable about their recent home form, however, as the Hornets have won their last five games at Vicarage Road without conceding a single goal.

Sannino has Samba Diakite back available following his suspension, but Mathias Ranegie is now banned and will serve the first of his three matches out on Saturday.

Recent form

Watford: WWDLWL

Barnsley: DLWLWL

Possible starting lineups

Watford: Bond; Doyley, Cassetti, Angella; Anya, Murray, Battocchio, Tozser, Pudil; Deeney, Forestieri

Barnsley: Steele; Hunt, Mvoto, Ramage, Kennedy; Mellis, Frimpong; McCourt, Proschwitz, Jennings; O'Grady

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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