2026-27 Sky Bet League One: Week One – Barnsley vs Bromley

Barnsley commence their 2026-27 League One campaign against third-tier newcomers, Bromley at Oakwell.

Barnsley will look to improve on their 15th-placed finish of last season, whilst Bromley are making their League One debut following a title-winning 2025-26 League Two campaign.

 

Teams

Reyes Clearly is set to start for Barnsley amidst transfer interest from various EFL clubs.

Cieran Slicker, Leo Farrell (both unspecified), Vimal Yoganathan (leg), Clayton Taylor and Isaac Smith (both ankle) are ruled out.

Bromley will be without Richard Taylor after he was red carded during their Carabao Cup first-round exit against Reading, which they lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Deon Woodman is unlikely to return from a hamstring injury which kept him out of the cup game, whilst Grant Smith is still expected to be sidelined with a stress fracture.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Barnsley host Bromley at Oakwell on Saturday 15 August at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ Red Button in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Barnsley’s first-ever meeting against Bromley in all competitions.
• Bromley are making their first visit to Oakwell across all competitions, but have lost just one of four previous EFL visits to Yorkshire-based opposition (W2, D1, L1).
• Barnsley have won just two of their last 13 league matches (W2, D6, L5).
• Andy Woodman’s Ravens have kept clean sheets in their opening league match of their two previous EFL seasons (W1, D1), having won 2-0 at Harrogate in 2024 then drew 0-0 at Shrewsbury last season.

 

Prediction

With a tightened budget over the summer and loss of four of their six highest-scoring players, Barnsley certainly will be relying on unity and grit a bit this season because I can’t see them punching the promotion-chasing weights as this is probably a campaign of survival and financial control.

Bromley meanwhile are absolute underdogs so can hold little fear especially after how they held Reading in a gutsy display but they need to be more focused and clinical as wasted chances will be punished a lot more as this is a different ball game in terms of league opposition.

Andy Woodman’s Ravens though can take heart from the fact that their maiden League One outing is away at a Yorkshire club just like in League Two two seasons ago, when they clinically dispatched Harrogate but this time I can see them taking a draw to get off the mark in a season of learning.

Prediction; Barnsley 1-1 Bromley

Result: Barnsley 0-1 Bromley