Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Three: Barnsley v Blackpool

Team News

Only full-back Rob Kozluk is a definite absentee as The Reds look for their second double of the season, but Darren Moore, Kieran Trippier, Emil Hallfredsson and Iain Hume are all injury doubts. Bobby Hassell will solider on with his broken nose whilst Ryan Shotton returns after a four match suspension. Luke Potter who made only his third ever league start for The Reds in the magnificent 2-0 win at Cardiff is likely to keep his place at the heart of the defence.

Likely Lineup:

Luke Steele

Carl Dickinson

Luke Potter

Stephen Foster

Bobby Hassell

Felipe Teixeira

Adam Hammill

Nathan Doyle

Hugo Colace

Daniel Bogdanovic

Jon Macken

Head To Head

Last weekend Barnsley notched their first league double of the season and now go looking for their second when seventh placed Blackpool visit Oakwell tomorrow. The Reds claimed a terrific smash and grab raid at Bloomfield Road back in December, winning 2-1 despite being second best for most of the match. When they travelled to the “Las Vegas of England”, Blackpool were still unbeaten at home in 2009-2010 having won six and drawn three of their nine games there. A penalty by former Reds target Charlie Adam- awarded for a harsh handball against Ryan Shotton after 72 minutes – meant the run was set to be extended, but Barnsley had other ideas and first with five minutes remaining, Bobby Hassell headed a Iain Hume corner onto David Vaughan and in for the equaliser before a handball from Alex Baptise two minutes from the end allowed Andy Gray to smash the spot-kick into the top corner. It shouldn’t’ have been too much of a surprise as that result extended an impressive run at Blackpool, where The Reds have now lost just once in their last seven visits.

They will also be looking for revenge at Oakwell tomorrow after Blackpool’s two 1-0 victories last season allowed them to claim a first double over Barnsley in 73 years. A 70^th minute cracker from Wade Small condemned Barnsley to defeat 11 months ago and kept them embroiled in relegation trouble. That was Blackpool’s first league success at Oakwell since 1935 (although since that date they had emerged victorious from four cup games at S71) The Reds have won four of the last six Oakwell meetings, and also won 2-1 in the FA Cup in 2007-2008- the first match of a cup run which would end at Wembley in a Semi-Final.

Striker Daniel Nardiello also has history with these two teams. The 27 year old is currently at Blackpool, but injured. On his Barnsley debut back in 2004, he scored twice in a 3-0 victory over the Tangerines. Meanwhile current Reds winger Adam Hammill played 22 times for Blackpool on loan from Liverpool in 2008, scoring once. If The Reds do claim a league double over Ian Holloway’s side tomorrow it will be the first time since the 2004-2005 season when they won 1-0 at home and 2-0 away. Barnsley have never done the double over a team managed by Ian Holloway.

Blackpool 1-2 Barnsley Match Report 5/12/09

Barnsley 0-1 Blackpool Match Report 14/3/09

Blackpool 1-0 Barnsley Match Report 13/9/08

Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley Match Report 4/3/08

Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool Match Report 5/11/07

Barnsley 2-2 Blackpool Match Report 15/10/05

Last Six Barnsley v Blackpool results:

5/12/09 Blackpool 1-2 Barnsley (Championship)

14/3/09 Barnsley 0-1 Blackpool (Championship)

13/9/08 Blackpool 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)

4/3/08 Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley (Championship)

5/1/08 Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool (FA Cup)

5/11/07 Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool (Championship)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 39

Blackpool Wins: 27

Draws: 23

Barnsley Goals: 136

Blackpool Goals: 115

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 26

Blackpool Wins: 12

Draws: 8

Barnsley Goals: 91

Blackpool Goals: 56

This Season

Ian Holloway has done an amazing job in his first season at Blackpool by turning the Tangerines from relegation battlers to play-off contenders. In their two previous seasons in this division following promotion in 2007, the Seasiders finished 19^th and 16^th, but under the guidance of Holloway, they look pretty in seventh position. This has been down in no small part to their incredible thirst for attacking football. Blackpool have had more attempts on goal (476) and hit the woodwork more times (19) than any other side in the division. They have scored 50 goals so far this season (more than they managed in the whole of last season) and have only failed to score in five games (the best record in the division) and they are starting to shore up defensively too. The Tangerines are currently unbeaten in their last three matches and haven’t conceded a single goal in those games, winning the previous two 2-0. They have also only lost one of their last five away matches, but that defeat did come in South Yorkshire- 2-0 at Sheffield Wednesday.

Barnsley are consistent at one thing…. Being inconsistent. This is highlighted by the fact that a league table devised by results against top half teams shows Barnsley third, whilst one in order of results against bottom half teams shows The Reds in 23^rd! In the last two weeks, The Reds have lost to bottom half teams Plymouth and Scunthorpe but beaten fifth placed Cardiff City! That was a welcome boost for The Reds and hauled them back into the top half of the table. This game promises to include a winner one way or the other as Barnsley have gone 11 matches since they last drew (the longest current run in the division) whilst Blackpool have only failed to score on five occasions this season… 0-0 it is then…..

Record for 27^th February:

Blackpool have a pretty decent record on the 27^th February having won six and lost three of their 17 matches played on this date. The Tangerines have though only won one of their last nine fixtures on this date, stretching back to 1954. This solitary success was their most recent encounter in 2007 when they defeated Oldham 1-0 at Boundary Park courtesy of an Andy Morrell goal. Even though it is just one 27^th February win in 9 they have drawn five of those matches.

Barnsley have an inconsistent record on the 27^th February and have won five and lost seven of their 16 matches. The Reds have won just two of their last 12 matches on this date, but did win their most recent- 3-1 against Millwall in 1996, Andy Liddell and a brace from Andy Payton the match winners. Their other win in this poor run was 2-0 against Leicester in 1957. Their biggest defeat on this date came in their first match in 1900. A 5-1 battering at local rivals The Wednesday.

Overall playing record for 27^th February:

Blackpool: Played 17, Won 6, Drawn 8, Lost 3, Scored 27, Conceded 22

Barnsley: Played 16, Won 5, Drawn 4, Lost 7, Scored 19, Conceded 26

Last six 2009-2010 Results

Barnsley:

20/2/10 Cardiff 0-2 Barnsley (Championship)

16/2/10 Scunthorpe 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)

13/2/10 Barnsley 1-3 Plymouth (Championship)

9/2/10 Middlesbrough 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)

6/2/10 Barnsley 1-0 Watford (Championship)

2/2/10 Preston 1-4 Barnsley (Championship)

W: 3 D: 0 L: 3 F: 10 A: 8 GD: 2 Points: 9