Steven Schumacher hopes his new-look Wanderers squad can right the wrongs of last season’s trip to Barnsley.
The Whites were beaten 4-1 at Oakwell on an afternoon to forget in South Yorkshire, and it was one of the results which saw them drop out of the play-off race at the back end of the campaign.
There is a different feel around the place following the arrival of 12 fresh faces in the transfer market, and with last weekend’s positive display against Plymouth Argyle to build on.
“I remember it being a pivotal time for us. It was a game where we’d had a couple of results go against us,” Schumacher reflected.
“It was against a team who at the time didn't really have a lot to play for. They were below us in the league, but we knew it was going to be a really difficult game.
“We had a performance where we didn't quite get to the level that we had seen in previous games, even when we hadn't got results.
“It was kind of the first time I remember that we played flat and we got beat on the day by a better team, so we need to make sure that that doesn't happen this weekend.”
Barnsley have made a positive start to the new campaign under Conor Hourihane, securing victories against Plymouth and Burton.
“Connor went in there at the back end of last season,” said Schumacher. “He was the manager in charge on that day and he has got them playing well.
“He has an idea and a style of how they want to do it as well, it is really clear. He has got really good footballers, talented, and it will be a tough game.
“Every time you play Barnsley you are up for the test and we need to make sure that wea re ready for it.”
Wanderers made 10 changes for the Carabao Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night, playing more than an hour with 10 men and eventually losing on penalties.
“We were disappointed to lose that game,” the head coach added. “We felt in the first 10, 15 minutes the game was a bit scrappy, probably down to the amount of changes.
“We had three lads who were making debuts, if you like – Daeshon’s [Lawrence] first start, Charlie Warren, again, untried at the level.
“Young Sam [Inwood] has only played two senior starts before, so there was a reason for the first 15 minutes being a bit scrappy.
“But once we got into the rhythm and the flow of the game, we actually played alright. To play that long with 10 men, even though we lost the game on penalties, we did well to come back three times.
“It is not that often that happens when you are a man down, so the lads weren't too bad if I'm honest.
“On Thursday morning when we got them in, they were fine. We didn't go over the detail too much about it.
“I spoke to the individuals with regards to their mistakes and areas where we can improve them, but straight away we got on to Barnsley because that is the more important game.”
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