Danny Wilson looks to magic of FA Cup for Barnsley v Middlesbrough

Wilson’s Barnsley is the destination for Boro this Saturday in one of the many mouth-watering ties in the third round.

Boro are “going really well” said the former Hartlepool United boss who is well aware his Tykes are the underdogs at Oakwell.

“Middlesbrough are a side I admire,” said the Barnsley boss, whose side are 16th in League One.

“I saw plenty of them last season when we were in the Championship and they were clearly a good side then.

“I’ve seen bit of them this season too and they are going really well.

“The manager has bought well and they have a lot of quality players.

“It is going to be a very tough game but it is one we are looking forward to and one we’ll be looking to make a good showing in.

“We wanted a home tie and you can’t ask for more than that,

“You never get an easy tieein the third round and we’ve been matched with a team who are going so well in the Championship.

“But you never say never in football, especially in this competition.

“There is the magic of the cup and all that.”

The Tykes (pre-Wilson) beat Boro last season at Oakwell, a game which proved the finale for Tony Mowbray’s reign on Teesside.

Barnsley ended up being relegated and the new-look squad are in mid-table in League One, six points shy of the play-offs and three points above the drop zone, though they do have a game in hand.

“Things are going OK,” Wilson told SportMail.

“We have had a complete change-around, about 20-odd people in a short space of time.

“Since relegation the club have cut their cloth accordingly and gone in a different direction.

“We have moved more towards younger players.

“But when you do that, you need to give time for the side to come together.

“I think we have enough quality to stay in this division and hopefully when the team beds in there will be a chance to may be target the tail end of the top six.”