Reds 4 Blackpool 2
Reds 4 (Winnall 3, 54, Watkins 56, Templeton 90+2)
Blackpool 2 (Cullen 53, Little 90)
Barnsley jumped out of the relegation zone with a comfortable 4-2 victory over Blackpool at Oakwell.
Sam Winnall opened the scoring three minutes in, nodding home Reece Wabara’s inviting cross for his seventh league goal of the season.
Blackpool levelled the score five minutes into the second half courtesy of Mark Cullen’s strike but two goals in three minutes put the Reds back in control.
First, Winnall stroked home Lloyd Isgrove’s incisive through ball before the striker slipped in Marley Watkins, who finished cleverly from close range.
Andy Little’s reduced the deficit in the last minute but there was still time for substitute Matty Templeton to blast home his first Reds goal on his home debut.
The result is the Reds’ first win at home in League since September.
The Reds opened the scoring with their first attack of the game three minutes in. Ben Pearson’s sumptuous ball allowed Reece Wabara to whip in a cross, which Winnall gleefully guided home.
It could have been two after seven minutes as Marley Watkins and Adam Hammill combined, with the latter’s driven effort forcing a good save from Dean Lyness.
Blackpool broke quickly and could have pulled level as Mark Cullen slid the ball across the face of goal for Brad Potts but the midfielder could not finish on the slide.
David Ferguson was the first player to be cautioned on 18 minutes after bringing down Lloyd Isgrove on the edge of the area. Conor Hourihane was unable to take advantage, blasting the free kick into the wall.
Pearson tried his luck from 25-yards midway through the half but saw the ball sail over the top while Potts fired wide of the mark for the visitors, 26 minutes in.
After a quiet period, Barnsley came close to a second on 38 minutes as Isgrove found Winnall but the striker headed wide of the target.
Two minutes before half time, Winnall pounced on an error from Tom Aldred but his effort from the edge of the box was gathered by Lyness.
The final action of the half saw Will Aimson collect a yellow card for a late challenge on Pearson but the Reds ended the half well on top.
Second Half
The Reds started the second half in the same way they ended the first as Hammill tested Lyness with a bending effort from the edge of the area on 50 minutes.
Blackpool levelled the scores only three minutes later as Mark Cullen countered following a Reds free kick to fire home from the edge of the area.
Not to be outdone, the Reds responded and retook the lead a minute later. Isgrove charged through the heart of the Tangerines defence and allowed Winnall to slot home his second of the game.
And a third Reds goal followed on 56 minutes as Winnall turned provider, poking the ball through for Marley Watkins who jinked inside Ferguson before stabbing home with the outside of his right foot.
Elliot Lee could have reduced the deficit but fired over from close range as the visitors struggled to get back into the game.
Barnsley continued to press for a fourth as Isgrove and Hammill continued to pull the strings in midfield but neither was able to fashion an opening for Winnall or Watkins.
Isgrove was withdrawn 15 minutes from the end with Ryan Williams replacing him while Tangerines substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel headed over from less than two yards with the goal at his mercy 11 minutes from time.
Cullen chopped down Alfie Mawson and Potts kicked the ball away as two more names went into the book for the visitors in the final seven minutes.
Kevin Long was cautioned late on for the Reds while Blackpool’s Jarrett Rivers tested Adam Davies three minutes from the end with low drive which the stopper expertly turned away.
He was beaten in the final minute as Andy Little slotted the ball out of reach of Davies but Matty Templeton marked his home debut with a goal in stoppage time, lashing in from the edge of area in added time.
A total of 9,072 fans saw Barnsley record their third success in their last four games in all competitions.
Teams
Reds: Davies, Wabara, Long, Mawson, White, Watkins (M. Smith, 90+4’ ), Pearson, Isgrove (R. Williams, 75’ ), Hourihane, Hammill (Templeton, 89’ ), Winnall.
Subs: Townsend, Bree, Abbott, Roberts.
Blackpool: Lyness, White, Aldred, Robertson, Ferguson (Osayi-Samuel, 60’ ), McAlister (Rivers, 60’ ), Norris, Aimson, Potts, Lee (Little, 74’ ), Cullen.
Subs: Letheren, Boyce, Dunne, Oliver.
