Barnsley vs Crewe Alexandra - prediction, team news, lineups

With the 2nd circular of the EFL Cup acceptable to statesman midweek, Barnsley volition invited Crewe Alexandra to Oakwell connected Tuesday.

The hosts lone precocious into this signifier of the contention acknowledgment to successfully navigating penalties against Wigan Athletic earlier this month, whereas the visitors defeated Accrington Stanley 2-1 connected August 8.

Match preview

Barnsley were heading for elimination against Wigan, who scored the game's opening extremity conscionable earlier fractional time, lone to triumph 6-5 connected penalties acknowledgment to Cameron McGeehan's equaliser 9 minutes from the last whistle.

Daniel Stendel's broadside person lone made it past the 2nd circular successful 4 of the past 16 editions of the EFL Cup, though a triumph connected Tuesday would correspond the 3rd successive clip they person reached the 3rd round.

The Reds' clash with the visitors volition travel connected from their goalless stalemate with Doncaster Rovers connected Saturday, and that effect near them successful 21st spot with conscionable 1 constituent successful League One aft 2 matchweeks.

Barnsley whitethorn person progressed from their clash with Wigan, but they person present failed to triumph successful 90 minutes successful 8 of their 9 astir caller competitory fixtures, losing 4 times.

The hosts' grounds astatine Oakwell this play stands astatine 1 triumph and 1 loss, portion they ended 2025-26 having mislaid 3 and drawn 3 of their last six homes games, and they person conceded precisely 1 extremity successful 5 of their past 7 contests astatine the stadium.

The visitors needed Luca Moore to people successful the 85th infinitesimal against Accrington Stanley to unafraid victory, with that onslaught capable to spot his broadside beforehand beyond the archetypal circular for the 3rd clip successful 10 seasons.

Crewe's 1-0 triumph against Northampton Town successful League Two connected Saturday could beryllium seen arsenic arguable fixed Josh March hid down goalkeeper Zachary Jeacock and waited for him to driblet the shot earlier tapping home.

A triumph for brag Lee Bell connected Tuesday would extremity his club's three-game losing streak against Barnsley, portion it would beryllium conscionable his team's 2nd triumph successful 7 games against the hosts.

The Railwaymen person started the 2026-27 play successful fantabulous fashion, emerging arsenic winners successful each 3 of their fixtures, and portion they lone netted 4 goals successful that stretch, they managed to support 2 cleanable sheets.

Crewe's lone distant contention this word was a 1-0 occurrence against Crawley Town connected August 15, whereas they had mislaid their last 3 matches connected the roadworthy successful 2025-26.

Barnsley EFL Cup form:

Barnsley signifier (all competitions):

Crewe Alexandra EFL Cup form:

Crewe Alexandra signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Neither squad are apt to tract their strongest XI's connected Tuesday, and it would not beryllium astonishing to spot Barnsley's Kacper Lopata travel into the backline.

Jonathan Bland whitethorn besides beryllium thrown into the starting lineup successful spot of Luca Connell, and helium would astir surely beryllium joined by McGeehan.

The midfielders volition person to enactment a frontline featuring wingers Reyes Cleary and Amani Richards, arsenic good arsenic centre-forward Makenzie Kirk.

Crewe whitethorn look to commencement cardinal defenders Mickey Demetriou and Luke Offord, and the duo could beryllium protected by a treble pivot of Matus Holicek and Joe White.

In the guardant line, expect to spot striker Josh March flanked by wide attackers Calum Agius and Jordan Gibson.

Barnsley imaginable starting lineup:

Ravenhill; Kay, Gale, Lopata, Alker; McGeehan, Bland; Richards, Kelly, Cleary; Kirk

Crewe Alexandra imaginable starting lineup:

Booth; Billington, Offord, Demetriou, Hutchinson; Holicek, White; Agius, Lankester, Gibson; March

We say: Barnsley 1-2 Crewe Alexandra

While Barnsley whitethorn beryllium favoured by immoderate owed to their presumption arsenic a League One side, their performances person been disappointing for immoderate time.

Crewe Alexandra's displays this word person been strong, and their antiaircraft resilience could assistance them beforehand into the EFL Cup's 3rd round.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.