BARNSLEY will need to improve - and fast - if they're to have any chance of breaking into the top six this season after a terrible 3-0 loss against Blackpool.
Head coach Darrell Clarke was forced into making two changes to the side that started the 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic the Tuesday before.
Adam Phillips, who Clarke hopes will be back in contention for Saturday's game against Mansfield Town, was replaced by Max Watters in the starting 11.
While Josh Earl, whose injury timescale is not yet known, was replaced in the back three by young Connor Barratt.
But even without the key players missing, Barnsley would have struggled to get anything from this game.
As it has done all season, their form has fluctuated and although they're more than capable of going on a winning run, they're equally as capable of going on a losing one.
Two goals from Sonny Carey - who tormented the Reds' defence all afternoon - and another from former player Ashley Fletcher ensured that Steve Bruce's side left Oakwell with all three points.
The dire result has left the Reds tenth, eight points off the play-offs with just ten games to go.
Almost every game is now a must-win - or for the first time in years they could find themselves with nothing to play for.
HEADS DROP AFTER OPENER
After a poor first half, the Reds started the second half the brighter of the two teams.
Marc Roberts - who has been fantastic since his return to the starting 11 - could have opened the scoring shortly after the break but he directed his header straight at Harry Tyrer in the Blackpool goal.
But just minutes later and it was Carey who opened the scoring for the visitors.
In recent campaigns, especially in League One, the Reds have struggled when going behind.
And on far too many occasions it seems as though once they go behind their heads drop.
That's exactly what happened here - and Clarke says he doesn't accept it.
After the game he said that on too many occasions his team are 'flaky' and that they 'go into their shells'.
That is not the sign of a promotion-chasing team but it has happened far too often this season.
It's something that Clarke is going to have to kick out of his side in the final ten games of the season if they're to have any chance of reaching the top six.
CAREY WARNINGS
The Blackpool winger could have had a hat-trick in the first half.
His first goal was probably the hardest of the lot.
But he had terrorised the Reds defence from the off and you could see that he was a threat.
But that didn't stop him cutting in from 20 yards and firing past Jackson Smith in the Reds goal.
His second was far easier, this time firing into an empty net from just five yards out after Smith parried Niall Ennis' shot in his direction.
Veteran manager Steve Bruce said after the game that he probably should have scored more - and he should.
He'll probably be disappointed he didn't.
But there lies an issue - Barnsley could have easily lost that game by more than three goals.
And it would have been hard for anyone to grumble.
Bruce played an old-fashioned 4-4-2 on Saturday while Clarke changed his side to be more attacking, with Humphrys, Keillor-Dunn and Watters up top.
However this loss wasn't all down to Clarke or his tactics, it was down to individual performances on the pitch.
PLAY-OFFS LOOKING LESS AND LESS LIKELY
There's now just ten games left of this League One season.
The goal at the start of the campaign was play-offs, at the very least.
But as the season has gone on it's become clearer that it's going to be very hard to make that top six.
The Reds are eight points off the play-off places.
That's a big gap to close before the season ends.
But Clarke and his players say they aren't going to stop fighting and let the season fizzle out.
If they're to break into those play-off places they will need to put a winning run together.
They're capable of that, but Mansfield will be a big test.
It's a chance to see how far the Reds have come since the opening day loss back in August.
And they'll need to show an improvement - or it'll be even less likely this side will break into the top six.
INJURIES A REAL CONCERN
Clarke has said that he doesn't want the current injury crisis to be used as an excuse for the way his side are playing.
But it's certainly having an effect.
The Reds are currently without Joe Gauci, Barry Cotter, Mael de Gevigney - though he is suspended - Josh Earl, Donovan Pines, Georgie Gent, Adam Phillips, Jonathan Lewis and Fabio Jalo.
All of those players would stake a claim for a place in the starting 11.
But the Reds are without them - and it's hard to play week-in-week-out with a small squad.
Players are being stretched.
Youngsters like Connor Barrett are being thrown in at the deep end.
Thankfully the Reds have now had a week off and there's hopes some players will be able to come back into the frame.
FANS FURIOUS
Boos rang around Oakwell both at half-time and at full-time - but it's difficult to blame the fans.
Those that stayed until the end had every right to voice their frustrations at the performance and the result.
Clarke says he understands the frustrations of the fans.
But the only way to get the fans back on side is to start winning games and putting in performances that could see the Reds make a late charge - however unlikely - into the top six.
He said that the atmosphere at Oakwell is 'tough' right now.
And he's right.
There must be some correlation between Barnsley's home form being so poor and the way Oakwell feels right now.
It's something the Reds will need to change if they're going to have any chance of pushing for the top six.
The negativity around the club right now is rife, in fact the only time it seemed the fans cheered after the first whistle was when they applauded Ashley Fletcher's substitution for his muted celebration after his goal.
Roberts said after the game that everyone needs to be together - the fans, players, coaches and the board - if they are to succeed.
But that seems a long way away right now.
Barnsley (3-4-3): Smith 5; Barratt 5 (Rodrigues 65), Roberts 6, McCarthy 5; O'Keeffe 5, Russell 5, Connell 5 (Nwakali 61), Farrugia 5 (McCann 88); Keillor-Dunn 5, Watters 5 (Benson 61), Humphrys 5.
Unused subs: Flavell, Lembikisa, Bland.
Blackpool (4-4-2): Tyrer; Offiah (Gabriel 77), Pennington, Casey, Coulson (Baggott 85); Apter (Onomah 77), Evans, Morgan, Carey; Ennis (Beesley 77), Fletcher (Silvera 77).
Unused subs: O'Donnell, Husband.
Goals: Carey x2 (56, 73), Fletcher (64).
Attendance: 11,563.
Referee: Ben Speedie (Merseyside).
