Hull vs. Barnsley Predictions: Back Smallwood to be carded in Championship clash

There are five games taking place in the Championship on Tuesday evening after Swansea vs Bournemouth was postponed, due to damage caused by storm Eunice. Hull vs Barnsley is one of the handful of fixtures going ahead and we’ve tasked @AnthonyEadson to provide us with his best bets for the game.

Both teams come into this game in desperate need of three points with the home side 20th in the table and winless in their last five, since a 2-0 win against Swansea at the end of January. Things aren’t looking good for Barnsley this season as they find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Championship table with just 17 points from a possible 93. 

Hull may be winless in five but I think there’s a really good case to be made for them ending that streak on Tuesday evening against a Barnsley side who have failed to win any of their 12 away matches so far in the 2021/2022 season. 

In total the Tykes have accumulated just four points on the road this season and have lost their last six away from Oakwell! Poya Asbaghi’s side did manage a 1-0 win over QPR ten days ago but I think they’ll struggle against Hull on Tuesday.

The Tigers have put in two solid performances in their most recent matches against two play-off hopefuls in QPR and Sheffield United. Shota Avarladze’s men racked up more xG than both of their opponents in those matches despite only taking a point in either of them. If they can play like that on Tuesday I feel there’s a strong chance that we could see a home win and for that reason I’ll be having two points on this selection, 

The second selection I’ve picked out for this match comes from the ‘to be carded’ market where I’ve taken a lean towards former Blackburn and Rotherham midfielder Richard Smallwood finding his way into the book. 

No other Hull player has received more yellow cards this season than Smallwood, who has eight to his name in the Championship along with defender Di’Shon Bernard. Smallwood’s eight yellow cards have come in 29 appearances and it’s not just this season he’s been a consistent offender.

In three of the last four league campaign’s Smallwood has collected eight yellow cards and in the one he didn’t he received six in 27 appearances, in Hull’s promotion winning season from League One. 

The 31-year-old is averaging two tackles per game and 1.7 fouls per game this season and with this being such an important match for both sides, I think we’ll see a few big challenges coming in. Betfair go 10/3 for Smallwood to pick up a card against Barnsley which is currently the best price available and worth half a point in my opinion. 

Best of luck to anyone following the selections, please gamble responsibly.