Analysis of Barnsley's pre-season win over Derby County at Oakwell on Wednesday. Conor Hourihane put the hosts in front then, after they fell 2-1 down, Adam Phillips levelled at 2-2. After Derby took the lead again, Kyran Lofthouse and Aiden Marsh won it.

FUN FINAL FRIENDLY HINTS AT ENTERTAINING SEASON

If Darrell Clarke’s first game in the home dugout at Oakwell is a sign of things to come, this could be a very entertaining season.

Of course this was only a friendly, and there is plenty to work on, but it was an enjoyable game – especially the final 19 minutes which saw seven goals as Barnsley came from 2-1 down to win 4-3.

It was the solitary home friendly of the summer and the last match before the season starts – other than a behind-closed-doors game with a much-changed side.

There were plenty of reasons for the several thousand Reds fans to cheer, from Conor Hourihane scoring a trademark long-range strike against his old club to local lad Aiden Marsh netting an injury-time winner.

In general, the hosts played well and could have scored several more goals than their Championship visitors.

There were also downsides such as some of the defending for the goals and the goalkeeping of half-time substitute Ben Killip, plus the injury to Fabio Jalo which leaves them even more short on strikers.

But Barnsley have generally played well throughout their pre-season friendlies this summer.

They followed away wins at lower league Alfreton and Accrington with a defeat to a top Spanish side Real Mallorca then this win over a team who beat them to promotion last season.

Their performances have gradually improved throughout.

They are not passing out from the back as much as they did under Neill Collins, there is more of an obvious press, their set pieces have improved markedly and, while there have been good patterns of play, they have also used more direct football at times.

All that matters is how they perform next week when the competitive games start, and they will need to cut out the defensive errors, but there are more positives than negatives based on the games themselves.

SIGNINGS OBVIOUSLY NEEDED IN LAST WEEK

This team, and bench, is likely to be fairly different to the one that plays regularly once the window has shut – with the Reds still looking to recruit in several positions.

Barnsley have so far brought in four players, one of whom is a player/coach who says he will not start regularly, and another is goalkeeper who the head coach admits might be replaced by a further signing.

Considering the players who left from last season, they would certainly have liked more than four arrivals by this point.

There are glaring gaps in the squad and, as always, the nagging feeling that more could open up later in the window if a big bid comes in for star man – despite all the insistence to the contrary.

But on the plus side they have signed two very experienced and popular ex-players in Marc Roberts and Hourihane – who both played well in this game – and a very highly-rated youngster in Craig.

They are expecting to bring in other players in the coming days, with at least one more left wing-back and strikers definitely needed.

HOURIHANE SHOWS CLASS AGAIN

Barnsley have tried their best to play down the fact that they have one of their best players in recent decades back available to play. Hourihane said himself that he will not start often as he focuses on coaching and that he is not the same player who captained the Reds to promotion in 2016. But, every time he has featured in friendlies, his quality has been obvious.

After his set pieces caused chaos at Accrington, this time another Hourihane trademark was on show as he arrowed a 25-yard strike into the bottom right corner to open the scoring against the club he led to promotion three months earlier.

It remains to be seen how Hourihane fits into the intense style of play the Reds want week in, week out but it will surely be tempting to have his quality on the pitch as often as possible.

Hourihane anchored the midfield, behind Adam Phillips and Luca Connell. While watching them knock the ball around confidently, with other technically efficient players such as Callum Styles at left wing-back, then seeing Matthew Craig’s impact off the bench, it was difficult not to get excited about Barnsley’s midfield this season.

Phillips scored and should have had two assists but Sam Cosgrove and Jon Russell somehow missed almost open goals from his crosses.

Phillips finished off playing almost as a ‘false nine’ striker between Marsh and Jalo but dropping deep into midfield.

Connell won a rare header in the build-up to Hourihane’s goal then saw a corner headed wide by Phillips but, once the league games start, he will have to be much better at finishing than he has been in the friendlies – this time shooting well over from 15 yards after a clever free-kick.

Barnsley had a lot of the ball and more of the chances but occasionally were opened up by good Derby counter-attackers or their own errors.

Josh Earl had a decent game going forward but gifted the ball in his box to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing – having to be rescued by Marc Roberts - while he was beaten regularly on Derby’s right wing.

CRAIG AND OTHER SUBS IMPRESS

Barnsley made two changes at half-time then five more after an hour, with some of the replacements ending up as the game’s star players.

Craig in particular impressed, assisting the second and third goal. He has been brought in mainly as a defensive midfielder but showed what he can contribute in attack.

For the 2-2 goal, he swapped passes with first Phillips then Russell then Kyran Lofthouse as he made his way skilfully around the bamboozled Derby defence from outside the box to the byline on the left where his low cross went through the goalkeeper then was bundled in on the line by Phillips.

He then sent in an excellent cross which was headed home by Lofthouse for 3-3.

Lofthouse, another impressive substitute despite playing out of position on the left, sent in a fine cross for the winner which was headed in by Marsh.

The young striker also gave his chances of league football a boost – especially given the lack of forwards – with the goal and some good pressing which saw him win the ball in a dangerous area.

JALO INJURY A CONCERN

When Fabio Jalo charged down the right of the penalty area then tumbled over a lunging Derby player on his way off the pitch, something looked wrong immediately. He signalled for medical attention then, after treatment on the ground, walked down the tunnel with tears in his eyes and his left arm wrapped in his shirt as a makeshift sling.

The teenage forward, who has looked good in pre-season so far this summer, is now likely to miss the start of the season – although the full extent of the injury is unclear.

It is a blow not just because big things are expected of the Portugal under 19s star, who looked set to get more gametime this season than under Collins, but because it leaves Barnsley even lower on quality and quantity up front.

Remaining as forwards at Oakwell are Marsh, Max Watters and Cosgrove – none of whom have been consistent starters or scorers for the Reds in the past.

Watters and Cosgrove started up front on Wednesday. They caused the Derby defence problems at times but questions remain about their ability to score a substantial number of goals this season.

Cosgrove came off at the break as a precaution having had a tight muscle, after missing an open goal, while Watters shot well wide at a tight angle after a run and pass by Earl.

The Reds had seemed willing to wait slightly later in the window to sign strikers, because they believe that is when the best deals are available, but Jalo’s injury may hurry that up.