Big Match Verdict: Stunned Barnsley suffer FA Cup defeat as Paul Heckingbottom's troubled week ends on sour note

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM'S first anniversary as Barnsley manager is not until next month but until the last few days things surely couldn't have gone any better.
Blackpool's Sam Slocombe punches the ball clear in extra time. Picture Bruce RollinsonBlackpool's Sam Slocombe punches the ball clear in extra time. Picture Bruce Rollinson
Blackpool's Sam Slocombe punches the ball clear in extra time. Picture Bruce Rollinson

Two triumphant visits to Wembley, the second securing promotion via the play-offs, and a top 10 placing in the Championship represent huge strides taken under the 39-year-old.

The past week, however, has brought the first genuine setbacks of his reign via the sale of top scorer Sam Winnall and the sudden departure of chief executive Linton Brown – a development that has seen Heckingbottom’s workload increase significantly due to having to now field calls from agents and try to initiate deals of his own.

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Last night brought no respite for the Reds chief, as his side crashed out of the FA Cup in dramatic fashion to League Two Blackpool.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, outstanding after being brought off the bench shortly before half-time, struck the killer blow in the 120th minute.

It was an exquisite finish by the substitute at the end of a spell when the ball had pinballed around the home penalty area and one that earned the Seasiders a fourth-round trip to Blackburn Rovers.

Gary Bowyer’s side were full value for their triumph, having taken the game to the hosts from the very start. The ’Pool manager had clearly fancied his chances of causing an upset in the replay, urging his wing-backs to get forward at every opportunity.

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This approach paid off on the half hour when Kelvin Mellor, Blackpool’s energetic right wing-back, volleyed the visitors in front.

A mix-up between Adam Jackson, who had only come off the bench seconds earlier to replace the injured Marc Roberts, and Angus MacDonald provided the chance, the defensive duo clattering into each other while trying to head the ball clear.

Mellor, ever alert, was ready and he fired in a shot that Adam Davies had no chance of keeping out.

Barnsley could have no complaints at falling behind, Davies having prevented Blackpool taking the lead seven minutes earlier with a wonderful reflex save.

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Slack marking by the Reds allowed Danny Pugh to roll a delightful pass to Jim McAlister, unmarked and 20 yards from goal. McAlister opted to take a touch and then beat a defender before thundering a shot that Davies did very well to keep out.

Pugh, once of Leeds, also went close with a fiercely hit shot during a first half in which the best Barnsley could offer was a couple of in-swinging crosses from Adam Hammill and Conor Hourihane that Sam Slocombe managed to turn around the post.

That apart, though, there was little evidence in those first 45 minutes to suggest two divisions separate the two sides right now.

Heckingbottom clearly had a few choice words to say to his below par players at half-time, He also switched Hammill to the left flank, where the wideman has enjoyed such joy in his career.

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Sure enough, the equaliser followed within three minutes as Hammill created havoc on the flank to whip in a right-footed cross that Slocombe did well to put behind for a corner.

Hourihane’s delivery found MacDonald who stole a march on his marker to head in at the front post.

For the next half hour or so, Barnsley dominated as Slocombe saved brilliantly from Hourihane.

Adam Armstrong was the next to call the Blackpool goalkeeper into action with a delightful flicked header from a Hourihane free-kick just after the hour.

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Josh Scowen should have done better moments later after being picked out by a slide-rule pass from Hourihane that opened up the visitors’ backline. The finish, however, was woeful, the midfielder dragging his shot wide.

Tom Bradshaw also brought a save from Slocombe before, belatedly, Blackpool, who by now had abandoned the wing-back system due to injury, finished normal time on top.

Barnsley had Jackson to thank for a brave block from a thunderous shot by Osayi-Samuel, who in stoppage time then performed an exquisite ‘Cruyff turn’ on the goal-line that deserved better than the home defence scrambling the ball to safety.

That ensured an additional half-hour and there was one fantastic save apiece from Davies and Slocombe in the opening 15 minutes.

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Blackpool’s goalkeeper was responsible for the first one, turning over a wickedly dipping free-kick from Hourihane.

If anything, though, Davies’s stop 30 seconds later was even better with the Barnsley man getting down smartly to keep out a drive from Osayi-Samuel.

Marley Watkins had a shot cleared off the line by Will Aimson after the restart and then Hammill blazed over from close range. As play raged from one end to the other, Davies denied Clark Robertson but he could do nothing to keep out Osayi-Samuel’s last-gasp winner as a troubling week for Barnsley ended in crushing disappointment.

Barnsley: Davies; Bree, Roberts (Jackson 29), McDonald, White; Hammill, Scowen, Hourihane, Kent (Williams 77); Armstrong (Watkins 77), Bradshaw. Unused substitutes: Townsend, Evans, Moncur, Payne.

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Blackpool: Slocombe; Aimson, Aldred, Robertson; Mellor, Taylor (Philliskirk 46), Payne (Yeates 61), McAlister, Pugh; Cullen, Vassell (Osayi-Samuel 39). Unused substitutes: Lyness, Matt, Gnanduillet, Des Pres.

Referee: R East (Wiltshire).