Barnsley got back to winning ways by the seaside to move into the top six for Christmas.
It is the first time Barnsley will spend Christmas Day in the top six of a division since 2005 when they were fifth in League One. Incidentally back then the Reds had also played 22 games but had three points less (36) than they do now. The last time they were in League One they spent the festive day in the relegation zone and have been in the relegation zone on Christmas day in three of the past seven years (2015, 2013, 2012)
This was Barnsley's sixth away league win of the season, it is only the second time in the club's history they have had as many as six away league wins by Christmas - also doing so in 1921-1922. However that season they would win only twice more on the road in the Second Division.
Out of the six away successes this season this is the first one that has come about with just a single goal margin - previously winning 2-0, 4-0, 3-1, 4-0 and 2-0.
Barnsley kept a clean sheet for the first time in seven matches (all comps) both the Reds last two league victories and last two clean sheet have come away from home, with the previous time being the 2-0 win at Accrington on the 17th November.
This was Adam Davies' first shutout in the league since the 3rd November against Southend (five league appearances ago) as on loan Jordan Smith was in goal at Accrington.
This was the 13th occasion this season a Barnsley match was level at half time, eight of which have been goal-less.
Barnsley have won six of those 13 matches, however this was only the second occasion in the league - also the 1-0 win over Southend.
Cameron McGeehan grabbed the all-important goal just before the hour mark -just his third goal for the club in 32 appearances and his first away from home. Barnsley are unbeaten when McGeehan has scored (W2 D1)
This was the fifth time Barnsley have opened the scoring away from home in the league this season and Barnsley have gone on to win all five.
It equals the amount of times they opened the scoring away from home in the Championship last season, from 23 games.
Also, remarkably in those five games that Barnsley have opened the scoring they have gone on to keep clean sheets.
Brad Potts set up the goal with a low right wing cross which may even have taken a nick off Kieffer Moore on its way to McGeehan at the back post.
It is Potts fifth assist of the season, level with George Moncur - only Alex Mowatt (9) has set up more goals for the Reds in 2018-2019.
It is the second game in a row Potts has assisted after setting up Cauley Woodrow's equaliser against Portsmouth. He is the first player to provide assists in successive league games since Moncur against Peterborough and then Luton.
Barnsley have now lost only one of the last eight league meetings with Blackpool (W4 D3)
However in all competitions this was the first victory in four meetings after Blackpool had won the previous two -both in the cups, knocking the Reds out of the Carabao Cup this season and the FA Cup in 2016-2017.
This was also Barnsley's first victory in five visits to Bloomfield Road (D2 L2) and only the second time in 12 trips that they have kept a clean sheet.
This was only the second defeat in 11 home league games for Blackpool.
Barnsley have now dropped only four points from winning positions in League One so far this season - only Southend (three) and Luton (two) have dropped fewer points.
This was the sixth time in the last 10 years Barnsley have won their final game before Christmas (D2 L3). However on only two of those occasions have they also gone on to win the Boxing Day fixture as well.
It has taken 29 matches but finally Barnsley's opponents have enjoyed more ball possession than them this season, with Blackpool enjoying 53%.
It is the first time the Reds have won a game when beaten for possession since the final home game of 2017-2018 when they defeated Brentford 2-0 despite only having 36% of the ball.
Barnsley had 14 shots on goal, their most in an away league game since Charlton in October (17)
Barnsley Team:
1. Adam Davies (c)
12. Dimitri Cavaré
6. Liam Lindsay
5. Ethan Pinnock
23. Dani Pinillos
20. Brad Potts
8. Cameron McGeehan
27. Alex Mowatt
26. Mamadou Thiam
19. Kieffer Moore
25. Cauley Woodrow
Substitutes:
21. Mike Bähre (for Thiam 80)
4. Kenny Dougall (for Mowatt 90)
29. Victor Adeboyejo (for Woodrow 90+2)
Unused Substitutes:
10. George Moncur, 18. Adam Jackson, 33. Jacob Brown, 35. Jake Greatorex
Blackpool Team:
1. Mark Howard
2. Donervon Daniels
6. Ben Heneghan
16. Curtis Tilt
24. Liam Feeney
8. Jay Spearing
14. Harry Pritchard
27. Marc Bola
15. Jordan Thompson
18. John O'Sullivan
21. Armand Gnanduillet
Substitutions:
5. Paudie O'Connor (for Tilt 45)
26. Steve Davies (for Feeney 45)
12. Michael Nottingham (for O'Sullivan 70)
Unused Substitutes:
7. Nathan Delfouneso, 13. Myles Boney, 25. Callum Guy, 39. Joe Bunney.
Blackpool manager Terry McPhillips said:
"We don’t think we should have lost the game today. We haven’t been at our best, but that still should have been enough not to have lost,”
“If we’d have come in with a draw and hadn’t done so well, then we’d have taken that, but we just have to take it on the chin and try and get a win at Rochdale now.”
Match Reports:
Sky Bet League One results:
Saturday 22nd December 2018:
Blackpool 0-1 BARNSLEY
McGeehan 59
Bradford 2-0 Scunthorpe United
Payne 10
Doyle pen 27
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Fleetwood Town
Hunter 28
Reilly 36
Clarke 90+4
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Gillingham
Reeves 6
Fosu-Henry 39
Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Oxford United
Whiteman pen 20
Whyte 64
May 90
Ruffels 90+7
Luton Town 2-0 Burton Albion
Stacey 17
Collins pen 73
Peterborough United 1-1 Walsall
Osbourne 45+1
Toney 47
Plymouth Argyle 0-3 Accrington Stanley
Finley 61
McConville 65
Clark 77
Portsmouth 3-1 Sunderland
Evans pen 48
Curtis 53
O'Nien 57
Thompson 63
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Coventry City
Amadi-Holloway 49
Southend United 1-2 Rochdale
Williams 23
White 8
Camps 87
Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
Appiah 29
Jervis 90
Onyedinma 90+2
Barnsley lie 6th in Sky Bet League One with 39 points from 22 games. We are Goal Difference inside the Play-Offs, 8 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 12 points off First Place and 18 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 23/12/18
Next Up:
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Three: Barnsley v Peterborough United, Wednesday 26th December 2018. Kick-Off: 3pm
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Twenty Five: Luton Town v Barnsley, Tuesday 1st January 2019. Kick-Off: 3pm