Reds v Seasiders
Blackpool come to Oakwell having just secured one draw in their last nine matches. In that time they have scored just four goals and conceded 18 times.That recent run started at Yeovil when they lost 1-0 and had three players sent off. Blackpool followed that up with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Derby County along with two red cards. In total they have received nine red cards this season. Last weekend the Seasiders suffered a 2-0 defeat against Middlesbrough when Mustapha Carayol scored twice in the last six minutes.
Late match action has been a recurrent theme having scored five and conceded five in the 90th minute of games. The season had started well for Paul Ince’s side and they sat top of the table after six games with five wins and a draw. A series of draws did hamper their progress, but still by the end of November they were clear in fourth place after 17 games. Their recent form though has seen this afternoon’s visitors slide down the table to 14th position, but they still are well clear of any relegation worries for now.
Team News
Brek Shea will be looking to get his second game for the Reds after a frustrating trip to Charlton last week put paid to any action. New loan signing Ryan McLaughlin is also waiting to get his Barnsley experience underway and both will likely get their home débuts on Saturday.
Recent permanent signing Liam Lawrence will be hoping that international clearance is received in time for him to get his Barnsley career off to a flier. Hopefully more Oakwell goals are on the cards for Lawrence having scored against Barnsley for previous clubs including a hat-trick when he was playing for Stoke City.
As for injuries Danny Wilson will be without Kelvin Etuhu (hamstring), Bobby Hassell (calf) and Marcus Pedersen (thigh).
Liam Lawrence's hat-trick from Stoke City against Barnsley
Blackpool will see Kirk Broadfoot return from suspension after seeing red twice in December and Isaiah Osbourne is also fit to play his first game since the QPR match back on 14th December. Late fitness tests will be given to Gary MacKenzie and Ricardo Fuller.
Blackpool striker Tom Barkhuizen has been ruled out of action for at least six weeks due to a fractured and dislocated collarbone. The 20-year-old, who suffered the injury against Middlesbrough, will now undergo surgery on Thursday in order to rectify the problem. It’s another blow to the Seasiders who have mounting injury worries along with several loan players returning to their parent clubs.
Form
Blackpool's last away win came at Forest on Saturday 2nd November when Stephen Dobbie scored a last minute winner. Since then they have lost four and drawn one league match on the road and are without a win of any kind since the 30th November.
Last 5 Away: DLLLL
Blackpool goals graphic
Barnsley's form is slightly better, but the Reds have lost the last two home games in the league to Derby and Bolton and the last home win was back on the 19th October 2013 against Middlesbrough when Paddy McCourt scored a wonder-goal.
Last 5 Home: DLDLL
Betting
The latest odds available on SkyBet make Barnsley 8/5 to win with Blackpool at 17/10.
Both Chris O'Grady and Thomas Ince are at 11/2 to score first with Brek Shea sat at 7/2 to open his Barnsley account during the game.
More odds are available on SkyBet.
Last time out
Last time the two sides met at Oakwell it was a 1-1 draw with Craig Davies opening the scoring and Tom Ince grabbing the equaliser.
