The quality of the football left a lot to be desired at times but Barnsley just about deserved this victory which, for one match at least, should ease the pressure on Tykes boss Paul Hart
Blackpool, like the Reds, have been struggling to pick up points this season but they deserve credit for approaching the game in a positive fashion. The attacking approach adopted by the two teams - and the generosity of their defences - produced an entertaining game in which both sides created a number of presentable chances.
Wasteful finishing was the order of the day, though, with Chopra, Shuker and Boulding all guilty of some fairly comical efforts on goal. In return, Grayson, Murray and Burns all failed to find the net for Blackpool when they looked odds on to score.
Burns can consider himself unlucky, though, as only the brilliance of Ross Turnbull in the Barnsley goal prevented him from giving the Seasiders the lead in the first half. Turnbull pulled off two incredible point blank saves to deny Burns when a goal seemed inevitable. On the hour mark, Turnbull again impressed when he showed brilliant reactions to tip away Murray's goal bound header.
Not to be outdone by his opposite number, Bradley Jones in the Blackpool goal (like Turnbull, a loanee from Middlesboro) impressed, thwarting Shuker, Chopra (twice) & Vaughan with the aid of the crossbar.
The quality of the goalkeeping, coupled with the paucity of the finishing, meant that a goalless draw looked on the cards until Jacob Burns stepped in. I've never been a big fan of Burns and, to my eyes at least, he was having yet another of his innocuous performances in the middle of the park. Actually, thats generous - about a minute or two before he scored, I'd expressed my bemusent that he had yet to be substituted as he had contributed "less than nothing". It would be an understatement, therefore, to say I was mildly surprised when he picked up the ball about thirty yards out and lashed home a unstoppable, dipping drive.
Blackpool responded well and almost snatched an equaliser in the dying minutes but Taylor's shot struck the inside of the Barnsley post and flew across the goal to safety. This was the bit of luck that the Reds needed and probably merited on the balance of play.
Lets not get carried away though: Barnsley did just enough to beat a poor Blackpool side who could yet be battling relegation come the end of the season. The fact that we created so many chances was as much about the slackness of the Blackpool defence as it was the creativity of the Barnsley forwards. It was also worrying that our finishing was so poor: on yesterday's evidence Boulding couldn't hit J-Lo's backside with a pick axe. Another concern was the Barnsley back four: the visitors carved open the defence on several occasions and we can't always rely on Turnbull to be as sharp as he was yesterday.
On the positive side, we won. On so many occasions this season we have failed to win games in which we have scored first - we have already thrown away 20 points this campaign - so it was a boost to actually hold on to a lead. Alongside Turnbull's Man of the Match performance, Paul Reid had an excellent game in midfield and, finishing aside, Boulding always looked dangerous, his pace and positive running a constant threat.
Maybe this result - and the bit of luck that we enjoyed - will be the stepping stone for Barnsley to go on a good run and start climbing up the table. With Peter Ridsdale's words no doubt ringing in his ears - "Manager's have to to be judged on results" - Paul Hart will certainly hope so.
Blackpool, like the Reds, have been struggling to pick up points this season but they deserve credit for approaching the game in a positive fashion. The attacking approach adopted by the two teams - and the generosity of their defences - produced an entertaining game in which both sides created a number of presentable chances.
Wasteful finishing was the order of the day, though, with Chopra, Shuker and Boulding all guilty of some fairly comical efforts on goal. In return, Grayson, Murray and Burns all failed to find the net for Blackpool when they looked odds on to score.
Burns can consider himself unlucky, though, as only the brilliance of Ross Turnbull in the Barnsley goal prevented him from giving the Seasiders the lead in the first half. Turnbull pulled off two incredible point blank saves to deny Burns when a goal seemed inevitable. On the hour mark, Turnbull again impressed when he showed brilliant reactions to tip away Murray's goal bound header.
Not to be outdone by his opposite number, Bradley Jones in the Blackpool goal (like Turnbull, a loanee from Middlesboro) impressed, thwarting Shuker, Chopra (twice) & Vaughan with the aid of the crossbar.
The quality of the goalkeeping, coupled with the paucity of the finishing, meant that a goalless draw looked on the cards until Jacob Burns stepped in. I've never been a big fan of Burns and, to my eyes at least, he was having yet another of his innocuous performances in the middle of the park. Actually, thats generous - about a minute or two before he scored, I'd expressed my bemusent that he had yet to be substituted as he had contributed "less than nothing". It would be an understatement, therefore, to say I was mildly surprised when he picked up the ball about thirty yards out and lashed home a unstoppable, dipping drive.
Blackpool responded well and almost snatched an equaliser in the dying minutes but Taylor's shot struck the inside of the Barnsley post and flew across the goal to safety. This was the bit of luck that the Reds needed and probably merited on the balance of play.
Lets not get carried away though: Barnsley did just enough to beat a poor Blackpool side who could yet be battling relegation come the end of the season. The fact that we created so many chances was as much about the slackness of the Blackpool defence as it was the creativity of the Barnsley forwards. It was also worrying that our finishing was so poor: on yesterday's evidence Boulding couldn't hit J-Lo's backside with a pick axe. Another concern was the Barnsley back four: the visitors carved open the defence on several occasions and we can't always rely on Turnbull to be as sharp as he was yesterday.
On the positive side, we won. On so many occasions this season we have failed to win games in which we have scored first - we have already thrown away 20 points this campaign - so it was a boost to actually hold on to a lead. Alongside Turnbull's Man of the Match performance, Paul Reid had an excellent game in midfield and, finishing aside, Boulding always looked dangerous, his pace and positive running a constant threat.
Maybe this result - and the bit of luck that we enjoyed - will be the stepping stone for Barnsley to go on a good run and start climbing up the table. With Peter Ridsdale's words no doubt ringing in his ears - "Manager's have to to be judged on results" - Paul Hart will certainly hope so.