Boss predicts tough test to go fifth

ATHLETIC are braced for a tough test at Oakwell tonight as they bid to move into a season-high placing of fifth in Sky Bet League One.

A Barnsley side buoyed by recent arrivals lies in wait. On-loan Stoke striker George Waring yesterday extended his Tykes stay to the end of the season, and local lad Ben Pearson is set to try to halt Athletic's mini-charge towards the top.

“They have come down from the Championship and without being disrespectful, they are under-performing for that squad,” said Johnson of Danny Wilson's men.

“But they have signed a couple of good players and have had a couple of good results. We played them earlier this year and it was a tough game.”

Athletic will move into the play-off positions with three points tonight and could give starts to new loan signing Conor Wilkinson and Dagenham acquisition Rhys Murphy, while Joseph Mills is back in contention after serving a three-game ban.