Barnsley 1 Blackpool 1: Blackpool draw praise from Hill after Davies earns Oakwell point

After Craig Davies gave Barnsley a 14th-minute lead with a firm, low drive from 20 yards, Thomas Ince equalised on the half-hour mark, finishing well following a fine through ball from Angel Martinez.

In the second half, Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks got down well to turn Davies’s low shot wide while Barnsley shot-stopper Ben Alnwick made some good late saves, including one to keep out Alex Baptiste’s long-range effort.

Hill said: “I thought it was a very good game and I really enjoyed it. Both teams deserved not to lose and I’m glad there wasn’t a winner because both teams were winners.

“I think Blackpool are an excellent side. For me, they’re the best side in the division and I’ll think they’ll win the title this season.

“I thought we were very competitive and tried to play the right way, which is encouraging. For us to be able to compete with the honesty and ability we’ve shown today is really pleasing. We’re trying to create something and it does take time but it was evident today what we can achieve against the best team in the Championship.”

He added of the two goals: “It was a great strike from Craig Davies after a good move but their goal was a great one as well from Tom Ince.

“What a player he is. It was a great goal and we couldn’t really blame anyone.”

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway echoed Hill’s view that the game was a great spectacle.

He said: “It was a fantastic game of football and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought it was a very good, entertaining game.

“I would have paid to watch that game myself. It’s lucky I got in for free!

“They played well and probably had the better of the first half after they scored, with the first attack they had. That seemed to knock us and we were on the back foot a bit. We didn’t quite get to grips with the diamond they had but the longer the game went on, the better we did. We got back in it with a brilliant goal and settled us down a bit.

“I was a bit disappointed that their keeper made two or three really good saves and unfortunately we didn’t take advantage after getting to grips with their shape.”

Barnsley: Alnwick, Stones, Foster, Wiseman, Golbourne, Cywka, Dawson, Cranie, Mellis (Etuhu 90), Dagnall (Done 68), Davies (Harewood 68). Unused substitutes: Steele, Collins, Perkins, Noble-Lazarus.

Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Eardley, Evatt, Harris, Matt Phillips, Sylvestre, Martinez (Osbourne 60), Ince, Kevin Phillips (Delfouneso 76), Taylor-Fletcher (Gomes 68). Unused substitutes: Halstead, Cathcart, Dicko, Eccleston.

Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).