Analysis of Barnsley's 2-1 win over Blackpool. David McGoldrick opened the scoring then scored an injury-time winner.

LATE WIN FEELS MASSIVE FOR SEASON

ALL LAST-MINUTE winners feel huge but this goal by David McGoldrick seems like it could have the potential to change the whole tone of Barnsley’s season.

This was a massive match for the Reds, against a side who joined them in hovering just above the relegation zone, ahead of two tough away games coming up and a brutal 24 matches in just over three months.

Just as they looked most likely to lose the game, or at best hold out for an unsatisfactory draw, with very little strength in depth to bring off the bench, they somehow found the energy to score on the break in the final seconds. They did not play superbly well but ground out the three precious points with some real character.

The last time Barnsley scored a home goal against Blackpool, it was Liam Lindsay’s strike which took them to the Championship in 2019.

This game was clearly not as momentous but - after losing three in a row at home to Blackpool without scoring - it was still vital as they ended a five-game winless run in all competitions.

It was revenge for Blackpool’s 98th-minute winner in September, the first game of a run of 13 points from 14 until this return fixture - a four-month spell in which they were one of the worst-performing teams in the third tier.

Three of their four wins since early September - Doncaster away, Leyton Orient at home and now this - have had large elements of luck with unusually bad mistakes by opponents and referees.

In this game, they were gifted an open opening goal by the visiting goalkeeper then Jono Bland could have been given a second yellow card in the first half.

But, in the third division, the quality of opponents and officials is not always high so you can ride your luck at times. Although that is not enough to climb the league like the Reds want to, this could be an important stepping stone towards more consistency.

MCGOLDRICK ENDS 154-DAY WAIT FOR LEAGUE GOAL

David McGoldrick scored his first league goal in 16 games across 154 days since netting against Bolton in August. It was a total gift after goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell passed him the ball.

Then, after Blackpool levelled, he won it in the 93rd minute - beating a defender and firing into the bottom right corner in front of the jubilant home fans.

McGoldrick has scored the two injury-time winners at Oakwell this season, having also done so against Burton in August.

No other player has scored an added time winner in front of the Ponty End since Sam Cosgrove was gifted a goal by the Wycombe goalkeeper in 2023. Marc Roberts did it in the FA Cup this season.

The 38-year-old striker doubled his tally of Reds league goals in this match and now has seven in all competitions - all at Oakwell.

There was a major blow before kick-off as top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn missed out due to illness. It was the first league game he had missed since signing for the club at the start of last season. But McGoldrick stepped in and showed his value, not just with his goals but some fine hold-up play and tireless physical effort.

The winner came after a brilliant run by Patrick Kelly who made three key passes and had a 96 per cent passing accuracy.

The Northern Ireland international played in a deeper midfield role than he has been excelling in recently, partnering first Bland then half-time substitute Vimal Yoganathan in very young central combinations, with Luca Connell still suspended.

Bland tripped opponents who were breaking into space after mistakes by Nathaniel Ogbeta then McGoldrick, but was only booked for the first one and was hooked at the break. Blackpool boss Ian Evatt felt that was a red card and Jack Shepherd fouled Ashley Fletcher in the box seconds before the winner.

PROMISING DISPLAYS BY DEBUTANTS

Full debutant Eoghan O’Connell made his first start in five months since playing in the League Cup for Wrexham in August.

Having replaced Mael de Gevigney, the centre-back won the most headers with seven, made the most clearances with six and had the most touches with 92.

But he did make a bad mistake for a major Blackpool chance at 0-0 which forced a superb save by fellow debutant Owen Goodman. The goalkeeper made two fine first half stops and, although he missed an early corner and spilled a few simple catches before gathering, enjoyed an encouraging debut. It was a far happier trip to Oakwell then when he was a Huddersfield player in August and made an error for the opener then was sent off after 36 minutes. He had kept 25 clean sheets for Wimbledon the previous season so is clearly a talented stopper.

He could do little about the equaliser as he was wrong-footed by a deflection off Tennai Watson.

Also returning to Oakwell was Corey O’Keeffe who played there for the first time since going on loan to Stockport for the first half of this season.

He gestured wildly to the home crowd after putting in a big tackle in the Reds box, and slid into several other full-blooded challenges. He seems to have added an edge to the side.

O’Keeffe played as right wing-back and Ogbeta on the left.

There was also a league debut for 20-year-old striker Leo Farrell, the latest member of the double-winning under 18s side from the 2022/23 season to achieve the milestone. He officially only touched ball once in his seven minutes on the pitch but won the header for the counter-attack for the winner.

REDS LOOK MORE SOLID IN BACK FIVE

The Reds returned to the wing-back formation the club had used for years but which Hourihane had moved away from and the club recruited around his 4-2-3-1 in the summer.

They kept the set-up which worked at Anfield but with more attacking intent as they also matched Blackpool’s system in this game.

The Reds have struggled to find two reliable centre-backs this season so have started to use three and so far they look more resilient at the back. That said, they conceded a poor goal to ex-Red Ashley Fletcher who, almost exactly a decade on from his Reds league debut, made it 15 goals in 17 games. That came from an error by Reyes Cleary who, while again a major attacking threat and one of the best forwards in the league, can sometimes contribute to goals at the other end and needs to tidy up that side of his game if he is to fulfil his immense potential. It is easy to forget, given his phenomenal output this season, that he is 21 and has made 12 EFL starts.

It was a fluid system with Ogbeta often drifting into midfield and Cleary moving onto the left wing or going up front while Adam Phillips was on the right but often drifted more centrally. Phillips was captain because the top three usual skippers – Keillor-Dunn, the injured Roberts and Connell – were all out.

Barnsley could only put six substitutes on the bench due to their lack of numbers.

Charlie Lennon was not signed in time to play as his medical on Friday afternoon was after the deadline.

The Reds had 71 per cent of the ball in the first half but Blackpool had the better chances then the visitors put a lot of pressure on late on but could not add to their equaliser and were stunned by a last-gasp winner.

AS MANY HOME LEAGUE WINS AS LAST SEASON ALREADY

The 15th-placed Reds are three points off the bottom four, but six places, and seven points behind sixth-placed Huddersfield with five games in hand. It is a bizarre league table and Barnsley are maybe the most unpredictable part of it. It is unlikely we will get a true read on the standings, and where the Reds will be competing, until well into February. At one point, a defeat would have put them in the relegation zone in the live table.

They have equalled last season’s home league win tally of six and still have not played half their Oakwell fixtures.

After the Christmas-time losses to Mansfield and Lincoln, it was vital they got back on track at home.

Among some tough-looking upcoming games, particularly away, this match stood out as a must-win along with the visits of Northampton and Wimbledon next month.