Analysis of Barnsley's 1-0 loss at Blackpool, who scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

POOR GOAL WILL STING

NINETY-SEVEN minutes and about 40 seconds of a strange game had surpassed when Barnsley conceded a goal that will hurt for a while.

They had been poor in the second half after a good first half, but looked set to collect a point as well as a rare clean sheet.

They had been expected to win but, in the circumstances, they could take some positives out of a 0-0.

After Jack Shepherd headed out the initial left-wing corner, Neil Farrugia ran with CJ Hamilton back out to that flank towards the halfway line. With seconds left, the Barnsley man should have stayed on his feet and made sure a quality delivery could not go into the box but he charged into a challenge, slipped and allowed Hamilton to run towards the box. Conor Hourihane’s former Republic of Ireland colleague found Olly Casey who, amid flat-footed defenders, teed up Jordan Brown to fire an impressive 20-yard strike into the bottom right corner.

It was an absolute sickener for the Reds who have conceded the last goal in their four most recent games.

REDS IMPRESS THEN FADE BADLY

Barnsley - wearing their black and gold third kit for the first time - played well in the first half.

They had 71 per cent of possession and produced some very attractive football, passing the ball crisply up the pitch through large gaps in the home side.

But they missed a few chances, had a strong penalty appeal turned down and lacked a killer final pass in good positions in the box.

Blackpool had the only shot on target of the half, but were easily second best before the break.

The away end of more than 2,000 seemed relatively positive at the interval whereas the home fans booed their team off.

The second half was totally different as all the control and composure Barnsley had on the ball inexplicably disappeared.

Blackpool raised their intensity, went more direct and got the crowd behind them.

The Reds had much less time on the ball and, when they did get it, they collectively seemed to totally lose their passing radar.

At first it looked as though Barnsley just needed to whether the storm and regain control but, like the constant rain throughout the game, it never really ended.

Some substitutions around the 70-minute mark seemed to make the game more even briefly but Blackpool finished the stronger and won it.

It was a learning experience for young coach Conor Hourihane against his wily former manager Steve Bruce.

That is now a pattern other sides will try to copy - get at Barnsley, cramp their space, put them under pressure and see if they struggle again. It is up to the Reds to find ways of standing up to that.

Barnsley’s only shot on target was on 95 minutes when Shepherd’s volley from a tight angle just bounced towards the home goalkeeper and was generously given as an effort on goal. That is a poor return for a team of such attacking talents.

STILL GOING AT TWO POINTS PER GAME

If Barnsley had won, it would have been their best start since 1946.

Instead, they must remain content to be going at two points per game with 16 from eight.

It is a solid start, better than many expected.

There were always going to be setbacks and this was a particularly painful one which they need to learn and bounce back from quickly.

They have lost their last two away games without scoring with their next two against Michael Duff’s Wycombe and current leaders Bradford City.

Blackpool were second-bottom with four points, having lost five of their seven league games.

They were always expected to move up the table eventually but Barnsley should have prevented that happening against them.

Veteran boss Bruce has won his last five meetings with Barnsley who have lost seven of their last eight games against Blackpool.

A MIXED BAG OF PERFORMANCES

Luca Connell possibly summed up the Reds performance.

The captain was outstanding in the first half, as seemingly every pass he tried - no matter how ambitious - fell at the feet of a team-mate.

But, although he continued to work extremely hard after the break and protected his defence, he had lost that magic in his boots and his passing suddenly became wayward.

Alongside him, this will be a learning experience for teenager Jono Bland who, along with Connell, could not often break up Blackpool’s second half dominance and give their team a foothold in the game.

David McGoldrick shot wide early on from close range when he at least should have hit the target. After scoring in back-to-back games in August, he has not netted in five - missing some big chances. But he was heavily involved in some of the good football the Reds played.

Davis Keillor-Dunn shot off-target twice from just outside the box having been gifted the ball by Hayden Coulson.

Adam Phillips had some good moments in the first half but wasted several good opportunities to pick out a team-mate on the right of the box. Caylan Vickers passed well and should have had an assist.

SO CLOSE TO A CLEAN SHEET

Barnsley got 97 and a half minutes of the way to a second clean sheet of the season only to miss out on it in agonising circumstances.

The back four all performed well and did not deserve to lose, after they withstood a second half of nearly constant defending.

Josh Earl continued his run of decent performances. He made the most touches with 112 and played some fine passes in the first half. While his distribution worsened after the break like all his team, he defended well.

Completing a solid centre-back duo was Shepherd who made a crucial block at 0-0 during which he appeared to hurt his back.

Both Tennai Watson and Nathanael Ogbeta played well at full-back, with the latter creating chances in the first half while also making the most tackles and interceptions.