Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Eighteen: Blackpool v Barnsley

Team News

Due to the farcical circumstances from last weekend’s abandoned game at Plymouth, Barnsley are missing two midfielders through suspension. Despite everything else being eradicated from the record books, Nathan Doyle’s yellow card stands meaning he serves a one match suspension, whilst Anderson De Silva who was serving his own one match ban during the game at Home Park remains suspended. This could see Jamal Campbell-Ryce restored to the line-up with Emil Hallfredsson reverting to the wing. Jon Macken should be fit after pulling out of the Plymouth game during the warm-up.

Likely Lineup:

Luke Steele

Carl Dickinson

Stephen Foster

Ryan Shotton

Rob Kozluk

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Emil Hallfredsson

Hugo Colace

Adam Hammill

Jon Macken

Daniel Bogdanovic

Head To Head

Last season’s double for Blackpool over Barnsley were their first successes over The Reds in 11 attempts. The game at Bloomfield Road on a scorching September afternoon came courtesy of a piledriver from Steve Kabba four minutes from time, settling a tepid affair, and then in March, the Seasiders claimed their first win at Oakwell since 2003 and their first league victory there since 1935 when Wade Small struck 20 minutes from time in another woeful game.

That though is Blackpool’s only respite with The Reds being something of a bogey team for them. Barnsley have lost just one of their last seven visits to the “Las Vegas of England” with four of those games victories. Probably the most “stand out” meeting in recent times came at Oakwell in January 2004 when Daniel Nardiello bragged a debut brace in a 3-0 win, whilst a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road in March 2008, was followed four days later by the FA Cup humbling of Chelsea.

Barnsley 0-1 Blackpool Match Report 14/3/09

Blackpool 1-0 Barnsley Match Report 13/9/08

Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley Match Report 4/3/08

Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool Match Report 5/11/07

Barnsley 2-2 Blackpool Match Report 15/10/05

Overall Record:

Blackpool Wins: 27

Barnsley Wins: 38

Draws: 23

Blackpool Goals: 114

Barnsley Goals: 134

At Blackpool (41 meetings at Bloomfield Road, 1 meeting at Raikes Hall Gardens)

Blackpool Wins: 15

Barnsley Wins: 12

Draws: 15

Blackpool Goals: 58

Barnsley Goals: 43

This Season

Blackpool are currently defying the pundits who predicted a another relegation struggle for the Tangerines who were promoted in 2007, as new manager Ian Holloway has guided them to sixth place in the Championship. This has been achieved thanks to a splendid home record and Blackpool; along with league leaders Newcastle United are the only sides in the Championship yet to be defeated at home. They, along with Newcastle have the joint best defensive home record in the division too, having conceded a miserly four goals in their nine home games. Only Rotherham in League Two have conceded less at home (3). Cardiff, Newcastle, Scunthorpe and Preston are the only sides to net at Bloomfield Road, whilst Premier League Wigan were thumped 4-1 there in the Carling Cup earlier in the season.

An assault on automatic promotion has been hindered slightly with their disappointing away record. Blackpool have recorded just one win from their nine games on the road, and have shipped 16 goals on the road- the worst in the top 13 and even more than Barnsley who have only let in 13 away goals. To highlight their plight away from the Tower, Reading achieved their first home win in 11 months when Blackpool visited the other week. The Tangerines are currently on a run of just one defeat in their last six, three of those being draws.

Barnsley were denied their third win in four games when their match at Plymouth was abandoned with The Reds 4-1 up, but they have won five of their last nine matches, and have won two of their last three away matches.

Barnsley are looking for their fifth away victory of the season tomorrow, which is almost unprecedented for The Reds at this stage of the season. They have actually achieved five victories at Championship grounds already this season having won at Reading in the Carling Cup. They haven’t won two successive away games since beating Charlton and Doncaster in October/November last year. Avoiding defeat tomorrow afternoon would make it four games without loss for the first time this season.

Last six 2009-2010 Results

Blackpool

30/11/09 Blackpool 1-1 Preston (Championship)

21/11/09 Reading 2-1 Blackpool (Championship)

7/11/09 Blackpool 4-1 Scunthorpe (Championship)

31/10/09 Doncaster 3-3 Blackpool (Championship)

24/10/09 Swansea 0-0 Blackpool (Championship)

20/10/09 Blackpool 3-0 Sheffield United (Championship)

W:2 D:3 L:1 F:12 A:7 GD: +5 Points:9

Barnsley:

21/11/09 Barnsley 1-0 Cardiff (Championship)

9/11/09 Barnsley 2-2 Sheffield United (Championship)