The Reds are so far without a point but not for want of trying. In both of their league games so far they have given their opponents much to think about. QPR failed to show any signs of being the dominant force they are widely predicted to become this season and while Coventry may have raised a few eyebrows with their perfect start following last term's struggle they were no oceans ahead of The Reds.

But the fact remains that Barnsley have zero points, and this weekend they meet Birmingham. Hardly the best time to meet a side touted for an immediate return to the top flight who have won both their games with Kevin Phillips instrumental in both outcomes.

Diego Leon may be performing for The Reds alongside Brian Howard in midfield but there are problems in front of them after £1m+ striker Iain Hume was sent off against Coventry and loanee Maceo Rigters looks set for an untimely spell on the sidelines.

It is hard not to start to panic a little for Barnsley.

Especially when you look at what they are up against at St Andrews on Saturday. With the likes of James McFadden, Gary McSheffrey, Lee Carsley, Cameron Jerome and Phillips at his disposal, Alex McLeish will be expected to gain promotion or be viewed as a failure. The defensive ranks including Radhi Jaidi, Franck Queudrue, Liam Ridgewell and Martin Taylor is also one of the richest in the league.

Phillips could so easily have been running out at St Andrews on Saturday in the red of Barnsley rather than the blue of Birmingham after reportedly agreeing to join the club before deciding to stay in the Midlands. Will The Reds rue that missed opportunity on Saturday?
Barnsley will have their work cut out for them, especially without Hume, and it seems highly likely that they will be still waiting to get off the mark come Saturday evening.

PLAYER TO WATCH: KEVIN PHILLIPS

The veteran striker was not happy with being offered a one year deal by newly promoted West Brom after finishing second in the Championship top scorer chart so moved across town to grateful city rivals Birmingham, snubbing Barnsley at the last minute.

Birmingham already know they have pulled off a transfer coup after Phillips bagged winners in both their league games so far, coming off the bench on both occasions to show the younger pretenders that he is still king. While he looks set to be utilised as part of a rotation system, he has already demonstrated that he will be a major threat when handed the opportunity.

He showed last season that he still has the eye for goal at 35 as he scored 24 times despite a lengthy layoff before Christmas and was a major catalyst for The Baggies' promotion.

A consistent goal ratio of one every other game has seen Phillips become one of the country's great strikers but, disappointingly, never on the international scene.