DOUGIE Freedman is about to claim a bizarre hat-trick after facing THREE newly-crowned managers in their first home game in charge.

Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka, Wigan Athletic’s Uwe Rosler and now Barnsley’s Danny Wilson have all welcomed Wanderers to their coronation – and thus far, Freedman has ended up on the losing side both times.

It should be another party atmosphere at Oakwell this afternoon as Wilson comes back for his second spell in charge of the Tykes.

Freedman admits the new manager factor has made the last two away trips a tougher prospect – but is backing his side to get it right at the third time of asking.

“I must be the only manager ever to face three new managers in a row in their first home game – how about that for luck? It’s extraordinary,” he said.

“It’s something that again doesn’t give us an advantage.

“I never want to come across as if I am moaning or making excuses but there have been some things that have happened to us in the last 12 months that have been hard to take.

“Having said that, I do think that the group we have got is capable of going there and getting the right result.

“We have got good energy in the team and no matter what goes against us, or what we come up against, we just need to keep believing and we’ll get back up the table.”

Wanderers have regularly provided the opposition for new managers in recent years, with Freedman’s side involved in Billy Davies’ second coming at Nottingham Forest last season.

In the Premier League days they faced the likes of Harry Redknapp (Tottenham), Kevin Keegan and Sam Allardyce (both Newcastle).