Blackpool 1 – 0 Barnsley – Match Analysis

The Super Reds suffered an injury time defeat in a relatively poor performance at lowly Blackpool.  

We were the better side in the first half and did have a couple of chances to win the game in that first period. Despite being the better side and having chances, the football we played was a bit flat and slow. We had a lot of possession but were too slow in the build-up.

McGoldrick had the best chance and should have at least hit the target. He has missed a few decent chances like that so far this season. And on another day Keillor-Dunn might have put away one of the opportunities he had, but none were clear cut chances.

The second half however was a different story and Blackpool deserved to take all three points in my opinion. It is just gutting to concede so late in the game.

You must feel for the back four, who were all fantastic on the day and deserved the clean sheet. Defensively we had been pretty poor so far this season so credit to them on Saturday and in particular to Earl who has had a lot of criticism this season but was my man of the match by a country mile.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t produce the usual free flowing attacking football that had been show for most of the season thus far.

I didn't feel Vickers was brave enough to really get at his man. Phillips had a decent first half but was anonymous in the second. He also seemed to spend more time hugging the right touchline than Vickers did.

McGoldrick and Keillor-Dunn were both poor, but we can’t really expect them to produce top class performances every single week. The lack of depth up front means that we are flogging them to death but there will be games like this when they are ineffective and games when they need a rest.


Connell and Bland probably had their worst games of the season. Bland is a young lad with not much first team football behind him, so he is bound to have the odd bad game. I would say other than the back four that Connell was our best player but not quite at the heights of other games this season and just like last season, if he is not on top form then the team aren’t.

Subs wise, I cannot understand why Russell keeps coming on wide left and not Cleary. Cleary may have had one bad game, but he is surely more suited to that role even if off form.

Russell should have come on in midfield and not Yoganathan who for me looks far from ready to play at this level.

It is one defeat and one bad performance so I can’t be too down on the team or Hourihane. We will have games like this. We have weaknesses in certain areas of the squad and Hourihane is still learning his trade, so we need to be patient and remember that what we have seen so far this season has been a breath of fresh air compared to last season.

Reds Ratings:

Numbers:

Cooper 7
Watson 7
Shepherd 7
Earl 8
Ogbeta 7
Connell 6
Bland 5 (Yoganathan 4)
Vickers 5 (Farrugia 5)
Phillips 5
Keillor-Dunn 5
McGoldrick 5 (Russell 4)

Best to Worst:

Earl

Shepherd

Watson

Ogbeta

Cooper

Connell

Phillips

Bland

McGoldrick

Keillor-Dunn

Vickers

Farrugia

Russell

Yoganathan

Next up we entertain Brighton in the cup where we might see some players rested given the gaffers comments after Saturday.

COYR