If you had £10million to spend, would you invest in this football club?

What a difference a week makes. Seven days after a superb performance saw them beat table topping Cardiff City, Barnsley followed their mid-week defeat at Bury by turning in a shocking display against a Blackpool side that couldn’t believe their luck.

The most frustrating thing about yesterday’s game was that the players just didn’t seem to care. Like most fans, I have long since stopped believing that the current squad feel anything for Barnsley Football Club, but surely they retain some sort of professional pride? In light of yesterday’s game, it appears not.

Ironically, Barnsley started brightly, and after half an hour could have been three up. After their recent poor form, Blackpool were clearly lacking in confidence and the Reds looked capable of scoring every time they attacked. Some poor finishing (from Dyer & Lumsdon in particular) meant that they had to settle for just the one goal, Dyer muscling his way past Grayson before finishing well.

And then…nothing. We just stopped playing. Blackpool gradually started to impose themselves on the game, and it was no surprise when they equalised with an admittedly fortuitous free-kick that was deflected on its way into the net.

So 1-1 at half-time. Despite the poor end to the first-half, I felt confident that we would still win the game. Surely a roasting from Hodges would prompt an improved display in the second half? As it turned out, we we were effectively out of the Cup after five minutes of the second period, having conceded two goals in the space of about thirty seconds. Credit to Blackpool for their second goal – a great cross from Dalgish was headed into the top corner by Murphy, but the third goal was unforgiveable. Lumsdon carelessly and half-heartedly lost possession about thirty yards from his own goal, and a quick ball through our static defence allowed Dalglish to slot the ball home in front of an ecstatic away end.

Barnsley rallied briefly, but were guilty of inept finishing, particularly from Betsy (who, after his recent scoring streak, once again looks like a player who suffers from nose bleeds every time he gets into the opposition penalty area). To make matters worse, Blackpool then added a fourth, prompting Barnsley’s ‘performance’ to deteriorate further.

To give credit to Betsy, he did keep trying, and his perseverance paid off when he won a penalty after a strong run through the heart of the Blackpool defence. Lumsdon’s miss from the spot was depressingly predictable, a tame pass back of a shot which the keeper saved comfortably.

Martin Bullock, a player deemed not good enough to play for this club by the previous manager, continued to waltz through our midfield, usually unchallenged, and a beautiful run by Bullock set up a fifth goal for the visitors that was ruled out by the linesman’s flag. The final whistle prompted a chorus of boos from the now half-empty stadium. What Mick McCarthy, sat in the stands after a book promotion in town, would have made of it is anyone’s guess.

So, where did it all go wrong? The midfield was completely overrun. Lumsdon put in a shameful display, and Neil was no better. Up front, Rory Fallon is simply not good enough, and no cries of ‘look at his goalscoring record’, or ‘he’s only a young lad’ will convince me otherwise. For a target man, he lacks strength or presence, and is far too slow to worry defenders when he has the ball at his feet.

All in all, Blackpool just seemed to want it more and that’s what really annoys supporters. When they see their team beaten by an opposition side that are clearly more committed to the cause, they have every right to vent their frustrations. The players are only too aware of the financial situation at this football club. Surely they knew that a successful cup run would have generated some much needed revenue?

As it is, the team have now been knocked out of three cup competitions, all at the first hurdle. We have two weeks left to find a buyer or Barnsley Football Club will be no more. With performances like that, why should the fans care? The players certainly don’t.