Marc Roberts netted an injury-time winner as Barnsley beat hosts Blackpool 2-1 on Saturday.
Davis Keillor-Dunn’s excellent opener had the visitors in front at the break then, after the hosts levelled, Roberts won it.
The Reds were much better than in their previous performances and, although they had spells of being under real pressure, they showed character to finish strongly.
The win ended a four-match winless run in all competitions and took the Reds up three places to eighth in the League One table.
Blackpool manager Steve Bruce was not at the game due to the tragic death of his young grandson. His assistant Steve Agnew, the former Barnsley player, was in charge instead.
Darrell Clarke made three changes from the team who lost 2-0 at Huddersfield on October 5, before two weeks of work on the training ground. Corey O’Keeffe, Jon Russell – who started a league game for the first time in six months – and the fit-again Adam Phillips came into the side for Barry Cotter, Matty Craig, who were on the bench, and Sam Cosgrove who was not in the squad.
Georgie Gent shot well off-target on the edge of the box after good interplay with Keillor-Dunn who made a bright start.
The first big chance arrived on 13 minutes When Blackpool passed very easily from back front through Barnsley and Dom Ballard went clean through but Gaga Slonina made a big one-on-one save.
Keillor-Dunn then tried an audacious lob from the right of the box but it landed on the roof of the net. Rob Apter hit the side netting from the right of the Reds box after Luca Connell could not control a powerful pass out of defence.
The opener came on 28 minutes when Keillor-Dunn received a fine Russell pass and jinked into the box from the left wing then found the bottom right corner.
Blackpool almost levelled within minutes but Lee Evans’ left-wing corner picked out Albie Morgan who volleyed powerfully over the bar.
De Gevigney nearly played Kyle Joseph through after slipping but just recovered to tackle him then, after an Apter back heel, Elliot Embleton blazed over 12 yards out on the right of the box.
Barnsley started the second half well and, after a clever Russell pass, Phillips’ low cross from the right could not be converted by Keillor-Dunn at a tight angle at the back post.
Home defender Odeluga Offiah then beat several tackles on a mazy run into the box but shot just wide of the bottom left corner with the goal gaping. Joseph’s effort was easily held by Slonina.
Oliver Casey levelled on 70 minutes when he turned Lee Evans’ right-wing free-kick into the bottom left corner from 12 yards out.
Substitute Jordan Rhodes, seconds later, saw a long-range shot beaten away by Slonina during a period of home pressure.
Barnsley then had a good spell in the last ten minutes. Josh Earl headed wide from an O’Keeffe corner then substitute Vimal Yoganathan hit the side netting on the right after a good move. The Reds then had a five on three overlap in attack but Keillor-Dunn saw his pass cut out.
Roberts then saw a header nodded off the line on 87 minutes after the goalkeeper dropped Connell’s corner.
But Roberts turned home from a Connell corner off his shoulder in the 91st minute to spark jubilation in the away end, the dugout and on the pitch.
Barnsley (3-5-2): Slonina; de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe, Phillips (Yoganathan 68mins), Connell, Russell (Craig 68), Gent (Pines 90+1); Humphrys (Jalo 90+1), Keillor-Dunn.
Unused: Killip, Cotter, Nwakali.
Goals: Keillor-Dunn 28, Roberts 90+1.
Blackpool (4-4-2): Tyrer; Gabriel (Pennington 61mins), Casey, Offiah, Coulson; Embleton (Onomah 61), Morgan (Fletcher 83), Evans, Apter; Ballard (Rhodes 61), Joseph.
Unused: O’Donnell, Carey, Ashworth.
Yellow card: Casey.
Goals: Casey 70.
AS IT HAPPENED
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3:01pm
Keillor-Dunn and Humphrys up front as a two
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3:01pm
Connell is the holding midfielder with Russell on the left and Phillips on the right
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3:02pm
2 De Gevigney blocks a shot outside the box by Dom Ballard
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3:03pm
After a good move down the right, Earl fouls Jordan Gabriel and it's a free-kick near the corner flag to the hosts
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3:03pm
The home crowd very noisy here
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3:04pm
4 Right wing free-kick. Evans takes it, over everyone and headed out by Phillips
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3:04pm
A minute's applause for Steve Bruce's grandson Madison who was four
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3:05pm
A moving minute there. The game stopped and the players all applauded too.
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3:06pm
Not much has happened yet. The hosts have had more of the ball though and been more attacking
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3:07pm
8 Half chance for the Reds Gent shoots from just outside the box but it's well off target
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3:09pm
Connell loses the ball poorly to Evans. Blackpool work it into the box and want a penalty for de Gevigneyt on Elliot Embleton but nothing given
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3:09pm
Then Blackpool swing a cross in from left but no one can contact
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3:10pm
A fairly quiet first ten minutes then, only that Gent shot
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3:11pm
Barnsley struggling to keep hold of the ball which has been a major theme this season unfortunately
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3:12pm
Big chance. Barnsley are literally passes through from defence to attack and Dom Ballard is one on one with Slonina but it's a big save
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3:14pm
Davis Keillor-Dunn who has been pretty lively so far, wins a free-kick on the right wing
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3:15pm
15 Connell free-kick headed out then the following Gent cross sees a free-kick given for a Barnsley foul in the home box
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3:17pm
Good period of pressure from the Reds. They have the ball around the Blackpool box for a sustained period. Phillips has it about six yards out on the left a couple of times but first sees a shot blocked then a cross is cleared. Better from the Reds
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3:17pm
Davis Keillor-Dunn does well to win the ball back after an attack then win a corner on the left
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3:18pm
19 O'Keeffe corner on left. Russell challenges but can't quite get there
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3:20pm
The last five minutes have been the best have played for a couple of games. Playing good football and getting forward a lot
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3:22pm
Barnsley are still a bit sloppy at times. A few passes straight out of play
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3:24pm
Blackpool trying to play out from their own box every time./ Looks risky at times but they keep coming out with it
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3:24pm
24 Keillor-Dunn gets in on the right of the box and tries to chip the goalkeeper but it lands on the roof of the net
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3:26pm
Rob Apter fires into the side netting after Connell again loses the ball – this time after a too powerful pass out of defence
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3:27pm
Davis Keillor-Dunn opens the scoring
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3:29pm
Nice goal. He cuts in from the left wing and finds the bottom right corner from just inside the box. He's been the best player on the pitch so far
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3:29pm
O'Keeffe loses the ball on wing then has to concede a left wing corner
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3:30pm
Almost a leveller. Lee Evans' corner is to the edge of the box where Albie Morgan is totally unmarked and his powerful volley goes over
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3:33pm
Barnsley looking pretty confident now, knocking it around well. Phillips gets into the box but commits a foul
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3:35pm
Barnsley opened up by long ball at back but, after Gabriel's pass finds Ballard, the shot is blocked by de Gevigney
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3:38pm
Not long until the break now. Barnsley would definitely take this at half time
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3:39pm
De Gevigney slips on the ball and Kyle Joseph is almost through but the Frenchman just gets a foot on it and sends the ball back to his goalkeeper
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3:40pm
Now Apter beats Gent easily but his low cross is well cleared by Roberts
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3:41pm
Good move by the hosts but, after a back heel from Apter, Elliot Embleton blazes over
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3:45pm
It feels like Blackpool, in general, are having the better of play and can dominate most of the ball against Barnsley. They just aren't being clinical. The Reds have been more dangerous on the attack but haven't got forward much since scoring
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3:45pm
Two added minutes in this half
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3:47pm
45+1 Roberts long throw headed out then he crosses for Phillips, who is judged to have foul the goalkeeper
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3:47pm
HALF-TIME: Blackpool 0, Barnsley 1.
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4:02pm
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4:03pm
46 Blackpool long through hooked out
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4:04pm
Humphrys, who was quiet in the first half, drives forward and wins a free-kick about 35 yards out on the right
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4:05pm
48 Connell's right-wing free-kick is headed out
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4:06pm
Bright start to the second half by Barnsley – decent pressing, winning the ball in good areas
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4:08pm
Blackpool are building out from the back patiently every time. It's not getting them much joy this half so far as Barnsley keep intercepting when they pass into the Reds half
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4:08pm
O'Keeffe wins a throw near the right corner flag. Roberts jogs over to launch it
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4:09pm
53 Roberts' long throw on the right is cleared then Connell's shot deflects straight to Russell who sees a shot saved by the flag is up
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4:10pm
Another chance for a long throw on right
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4:11pm
54 Roberts' long is headed out but, after a clever Russell pass, Phillips whips in a low ball from the right but Keillor Dunn cannot convert at a very tight angle at the back post
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4:14pm
A long way to go in this game. Blackpool have Ashley Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes to bring on, two strikers with Barnsley connections
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4:14pm
Blackpool have had a better last few minutes. They win a free-kick on the right
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4:15pm
58 Lee Evans' free-kick is punched out by Slonina then a shot is blocked
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4:16pm
Cross from the right after good Blackpool move but Roberts headed out
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4:16pm
Blackpool are making a treble change
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4:17pm
Matt Pennington comes on for Jordan Gabriel, Jordan Rhodes for Dom Ballard and Josh Onomah for Elliot Embleton
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4:19pm
Odeluga Offiah, the Blackpool centre-back, dances through the Reds midfield and defence but shoots just wide of the bottom left corner
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4:20pm
Now Kyle Joseph's weak effort from the left of the box is easily saved
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4:22pm
Another period of Barnsley having to defend a lot and barely getting on the ball. They need to ride it out. Philips down getting treatment so everyone else goes to the side for a mini team talk
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4:23pm
Yoganathan and Craig on for Phillips and Russell
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4:25pm
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4:26pm
Free-kick from the right met by Casey who volleyed into the bottom left corner
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4:29pm
Blackpool well on top now. A couple of set pieces cleared. Barnsley rattled
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4:30pm
Home crowd really up now., Their team are well on top
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4:30pm
Apter cuts in from right and shoots from edge of box. Deflected just wide. Corner on right
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4:31pm
Corner cleared. But the next cross is headed behind for another corner on left
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4:31pm
Very one sided in the hosts' favour right now
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4:32pm
The corner is cleared then Humphrys is almost put through on the break but good interception by a defender
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4:33pm
Josh Onomah, who played in the top flight for Spurs, has made an impact off the bench. Operating on the left of midfield, he's caused a lot of problems
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4:34pm
Barnsley still carry a threat of the break. Vimal almost plays Humphrys through but it's a good tackle by Casey
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4:34pm
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4:35pm
79 Earl free-kick on halfway scrambled clear
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4:36pm
Rare attack from the Reds. Decent football and Gent's cross is turned behind for a corner on the left
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4:37pm
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4:38pm
Jalo was ready to come on but he's sat back down now
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4:38pm
Barnsley win another corner on the left. O'Keeffe to take
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4:39pm
82 O'Keeffe's corner is headed wide by Earl
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4:39pm
Ex-Red Ashley Fletcher comes on for Albie Morgan
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4:41pm
Vimal Yoganathan hits the side netting on the right after a good move.
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4:41pm
Much better from Barnsley in the last few minutes
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4:42pm
Barnsley win the ball and have a five on three but DKD sees his pass cut out
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4:43pm
Reds win a corner on the right
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4:44pm
87 Connell's corner from the right is dropped by the goalkeeper then Roberts' headed is nodded off the line and Vimal's shot blocked
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4:45pm
Blackpool free-kick about 30 yards out in a central position
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4:46pm
89 Lee Evans' free-kick is over the bar
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4:47pm
Vimal, who has done well, wins a corner on the right
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4:47pm
Barnsley bringing on Jalo and Pines
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4:48pm
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4:49pm
Mael de Gevigney nets in injury-time!
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4:50pm
The Frenchman heads Connell's right wing corner into the back of the net.
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4:53pm
Apparently it was actually Marc Roberts who scored
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4:53pm
Barnsley concede a free-kick just outside their box
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4:53pm
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4:54pm
FULL-TIME: Blackpool 1, Barnsley 2
