Barnsley FC 2 Blackpool 1: David McGoldrick strikes in dying embers to give Reds a dramatic first win of 2026
There was no sign of an FA Cup hangover at Oakwell as Barnsley secured three points at Blackpool’s expense.
Conor Hourihane’s side made a relatively seamless transition back to League One life after their Anfield adventure, clinching a 2-1 win over an underachieving Blackpool outfit.
The scoring was opened by a moment of magic that was made possible by a moment of madness. Veteran marksman David McGoldrick picked up a stray Bailey Peacock-Farrell ball before looping a shot over the stranded Tangerines stopper from long range.
Ashley Fletcher levelled against his former club but McGoldrick struck again in the dying embers to give the hosts a dramatic victory.
It was a goal that gave Barnsley their first win of 2026, giving beleaguered supporters further hope that a corner is being turned.
First half
The affair started at a slow pace, with both sides easing in rather flying out of the traps. Early flashes of promise came from the Reds, who should really have made more of an enticing Corey O’Keeffe free-kick delivery sent across the face of goal.
Nathanael Ogbeta did time his run perfectly to meet a lofted ball from Jack Shepherd, although he was challenged strongly and successfully before Bailey Peacock-Farrell could be tested between the sticks.
At the other end, CJ Hamilton fizzed in a cross that Tom Bloxham met, but debutant Barnsley goalkeeper Owen Goodman was out quickly to thwart the Tangerines frontman.
Opportunities continued to be presented occasionally as the early stages were played out at a leisurely pace away from danger. However, the entertainment level soon started to rise.
McGoldrick slipped the ball through to Reyes Cleary, who picked out Adam Phillips only to see the stand-in Reds skipper skew wide.
Cleary had a pop himself barely a minute later, drilling in a shot that was easy for Peacock-Farrell to get hold of at his near post.
As the half-hour mark approached, it was the Reds threatening to move through the gears, but they soon had to be rescued by Goodman.
An error from O’Connell allowed Fletcher to get in behind and lay the ball on a plate for Bloxham, who had drifted into acres of space. The net looked destined to bulge, but Goodman performed heroics to keep the score level with a superb save.
It was then Blackpool’s time to blunder and unlike the Tangerines, Barnsley made sure they took advantage. McGoldrick picked up a wayward ball from Peacock-Farrell and with the goalkeeper stranded far from his line, clipped it over the top and into an empty net from distance.
With half-time just around the corner, Blackpool came close to equalising in alarmingly similar fashion to how they had nearly taken the lead earlier. Fletcher released Bloxham with Barnsley’s defence in disarray and Goodman had to pull off an acrobatic save.
Second half
Barnsley emerged from the half-time break with urgency, almost immediately breaking away down the left with Cleary. The jet-heeled wideman’s cross made its way to Patrick Kelly, who took a touch when a first-time effort was required and consequently had his pocket picked.
Kelly was swiftly given a chance to make amends when he was played in behind by Phillips, but snatched at the shot and spared Blackpool’s blushes.
It was seemingly a wake-up call for the visitors, who upped the ante in search of a leveller. Scott Banks stepped off the bench and on to the gas, darting down the left before seeing a powerful effort deflected behind by the head of Jack Shepherd.
The pendulum eventually started to swing in Blackpool’s favour but Ian Evatt’s men were mostly limited to half-chances and Goodman did not face too much difficulty.
Barnsley struggled to get going on the break, too often surrendering possession just as promise was starting to get built. Cleary did manage to dance his way into a dangerous area in the box before being crowded out, giving Blackpool a reminder of the threat Barnsley can pose.
The hosts eventually cracked under the weight of Blackpool pressure as a one-time Oakwell hero struck against his old club. Fletcher was fed by George Honeyman and fired the Seasiders level with the help of a deflection.
With Barnsley running out of steam, Blackpool kept their feet pressed firmly on the gas. Fletcher came close to notching a second but Tennai Watson did enough to ensure his effort on goal was tame and harmless.
Barnsley regained some attacking impetus late on and made a late push to turn one point into three. They were rewarded for their efforts in the the dying embers when McGoldrick jinked his way into the box and sent a low drive into the bottom corner.