Match Preview: Barnsley vs Blackpool

Date: Saturday, 9 March 2025
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Venue: Oakwell
Competition: Sky Bet League One

Barnsley return to Oakwell this Saturday looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night. However, head coach Darrell Clarke will once again be forced to shuffle his pack with injuries, suspensions and limited squad depth combining to stretch the Reds to their limits.

With the playoff race intensifying, both Barnsley and Blackpool will view this fixture as a pivotal moment in their seasons. The visitors arrive with a decent away record, but they too are dealing with some selection headaches.

Recent Form

Team	Last 5 Matches	Points Per Game	Current Position
Barnsley	W L W D L	1.49	10th
Blackpool	D D W D L	1.32	13th

Head to Head

Stat	Barnsley	Blackpool
Wins	8	11
Draws	4	4
Average Goals (per match)	2.35	2.35
Both Teams to Score	57%	57%

Barnsley Team News

Barnsley’s injury problems worsened at The Valley on Tuesday night when Josh Earl was forced off before half-time. With Maël de Gevigney serving the final game of his suspension and Joe Gauci, Barry Cotter, Donovan Pines, and Fabio Jalo already sidelined, the Reds have been left desperately short at the back.

The makeshift defence will likely include 20-year-old Connor Barratt, who could make his first professional start alongside Marc Roberts and Conor McCarthy.

Further forward, Davis Keillor-Dunn will be crucial in attack, having netted 14 league goals this season. His partnership with Stephen Humphrys, supported by Adam Phillips from midfield (10 goals), is Barnsley’s best hope of breaking down Blackpool’s backline.

Player	Status
Adam Phillips	Very doubtful (strain)
Josh Earl	Very doubtful (strain)
Georgie Gent	Out for season (Achilles)
Maël de Gevigney	Suspended (final match of ban)
Joe Gauci	Injured
Jonathan Lewis	Injured
Donovan Pines	Injured
Fabio Jalo	Injured
Barry Cotter	Injured

Loanees Recalled

• Jonathan Bland (midfielder)
• Bayley McCann (left wing-back)

Darrell Clarke’s View

It’s a tough period but no excuses — we have to pull together, build a siege mentality, and find a way to win. We’ve got problems, but there’s no room for self-pity. This is an opportunity for players to step up and show what they’re made of.

Blackpool Team News

Blackpool also have problems, especially in wide areas. CJ Hamilton and Sammy Silvera are doubtful, while Tom Bloxham and Odeluga Offiah remain unavailable.

Following a hard-fought draw with Peterborough United in midweek, Matthew Pennington, Oliver Casey and Elkan Baggott are expected to form an unchanged back three, while Lee Evans and Albie Morgan will control the midfield.

Steve Bruce’s View

We’re a bit light in wide areas, which isn’t ideal, but we’ve got enough options to adapt. We’ll go to Oakwell with a positive mindset and look to build on our recent away performances.

Likely Lineups

Barnsley (3-5-2)

Smith
McCarthy, Roberts, Barratt
O’Keeffe, Connell, Russell, Nwakali, Farrugia
Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys

Blackpool (3-4-1-2)

Tyrer
Pennington, Casey, Baggott
Lawrence-Gabriel, Evans, Morgan, Coulson
Carey
Ennis, Fletcher

Key Players to Watch

Barnsley	Blackpool
Davis Keillor-Dunn (14 goals)	Kyle Joseph (7 goals)
Jonathan Russell	Albie Morgan
Connor Barratt (potential debut)	Ashley Fletcher (7 goals)

Prediction Data

Market	Probability
Barnsley to Win	39%
Draw	29%
Blackpool to Win	30%
Both Teams to Score	63%
Over 2.5 Goals	43%

Final Verdict

With both sides missing key players, this feels like a game where neither will be at their best. Barnsley’s home advantage and strong spirit under Clarke will be tested against a Blackpool side unbeaten in their last four away matches.

With goals likely at both ends, a high-scoring draw feels the most probable outcome.

Prediction: Barnsley 2-2 Blackpool