Barnsley host Blackpool

Monday night felt like a great distraction from the underwhelming League One campaign for Conor Hourihane’s side, and hopefully the Reds can carry some of the Anfield display’s momentum onto the Oakwell pitch. 

There has been more action in the transfer market in terms of outgoings for Barnsley, as Hourihane and the recruitment team look to “wheel and deal” in order to bring in some new additions to the squad. 

Two new additions have arrived, and they both affect the defensive department as Eoghan O’Connell and Owen Goodman look to bolster a struggling backline. 

Owen Goodman will go straight into the XI on Saturday you’d imagine, with the loanee goalkeeper hoping for a better display than his horror show for Huddersfield at Oakwell in late August. 

It remains to be seen if O’Connell will come straight in, as his debut cameo at Liverpool was his first competitive appearance in around five months. 

Hourihane did mention that the former Wrexham defender has kept himself fit, however the starting back five impressed at Anfield, and the Reds head coach may trust some of the same personnel when the Tangerines come to Tarn.   

As for injury news, Hourihane said that Josh Earl will be out for a good while with a freak injury he sustained just before the Liverpool game. 

Nathanael Ogbeta also got through the FA Cup tie fine and will be in contention for the Blackpool game. 

Luca Connell is still suspended after his red card for violent conduct away at Wigan on New Year’s Day. 

As for Blackpool, they currently sit 19th in League One on 29 points, the same amount as Barnsley although they have played four more games. 

They had a disappointing start to the campaign under Steve Bruce, which saw him sacked on October 4, 2025, as the club sat second-bottom in the table after 11 games following a home defeat to AFC Wimbledon. 

He was replaced by former Bolton boss Ian Evatt who has won eight out of 17 matches in charge. 

The Tangerines have lost their last three games in all competitions, however, were unbeaten in six in all competitions before that, which included five wins. 

When looking at Blackpool’s key players, it is hard to look past former Barnsley loanee Ashley Fletcher who has 16 goals in 30 matches for Blackpool this season. 

It is fair to say Fletcher is very much inform, with the 30-year-old scoring goals consistently since around mid-October. 

Since relegation from the Premier League in 2011, Blackpool had a torrid time under previous owners which saw the club drop all the way to England’s fourth tier in 2016. 

The Tangerines returned to the third tier at the first attempt and found themselves back in the Championship in 2021. 

They would be relegated in 2023 and have remained in League One since after 8th and 9th placed finishes. 

Earlier this season, Blackpool beat Barnsley at Bloomfield Road in September 1-0 after a late 98th winner from Jordan Brown. 

Barnsley and Blackpool have faced off 111 times over the years, with Barnsley winning 47 matches and losing 39, with 25 draws.