Postponed Barnsley fixture has new date

BURTON Albion’s postponed League One game at Barnsley has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 19.

The game was initially due to take place on September 22 but was called off after Barnsley club volunteer Stephen Croft suffered a cardiac arrest shortly before kick-off.

He was given extensive treatment at pitch-side before an air ambulance landed on the pitch to take him to hospital.

Mr Croft was able to return home from hospital in October.

The new date means Albion’s trip to Oakwell will take place between an away game at Shrewsbury Town on February 16 and Fleetwood Town’s visit to the Pirelli Stadium on February 23.

Tickets for the original fixture are still valid and supporters who kept their tickets will be able to use them for the new date.

Those now not able to go to the game can return tickets for a refund at the Brewers club shop.

Details of further tickets going on sale for the game will be announced soon.

A Barnsley statement said: “The club will look to make a further announcement in due course about special plans for the match, in recognition of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Barnsley are fifth in League One, four points short of the automatic promotion places.

The reverse fixture at Burton is set to take place on April 6. JOSH Clarke became Burton Albion’s first January signing when he joined on loan from Brentford on Friday.

The 23-year-old is with the Brewers until the end of the season and came off the bench to make his debut in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Gillingham.

Manager Nigel Clough said he brought Clarke in to provide options down the right, with the Bees man comfortable at rightback and as a winger, which is the position he took against the Gills at the weekend.

So what can Clarke offer Burton for the final four months of the campaign?

Ryan O’Donovan of the website Football.London gives us an insight into Albion’s latest recruit.

Has he been favoured more as a winger or a full-back by Brentford?

He was certainly seen more as a right-back when he was playing at Brentford but he had the scope to bomb forward at will.

That led to him scoring a few goals during his time here.

He played both positions while at Griffin Park but former boss Dean Smith certainly seemed to favour him more at the back.

What qualities does Clarke bring to a team?

He’s very good on the ball and has a good cross on him, something he put to good use at Brentford.

Clarke can read the game well too, meaning he gets himself into good positions and can pop up with the odd goal.

He’s not a bad finisher either.