- Barnsley beat Blackpool 2-1 when they last met in this fixture 7 months ago in 2025/2026.
- Barnsley have won 2 of their last 3 home games (1 loss).
- Blackpool have won their only away game so far in League One 2026/2027, scoring an average of 2.00 goals per game and conceding an average of 1.00.
Two teams on the up
Barnsley are 9th in League One 2026/2027 with 4 points from their opening 3 games, while Blackpool sit top of the table with 7 points from the same amount of matches.
Blackpool are slight outsiders here on paper, but they're top of the league, so the value in Barnsley's odds of 71/50 makes more sense to us. However, we think the visitors have enough bite to either nick this or at least hold out for a point.
A clash of styles at Oakwell
The Tykes will need to break down their defence and they will need to do so in a way that suits their own style, which is a high-intensity, direct-pressing game. Daniel Stendel's men, who have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 matches, have won their last 2 and will come into this one with a head of steam.
Since his appointment on 1st July 2026, Stendel has re-shaped Barnsley into a side that presses high, recovers the ball and then plays in transition. The last 3 games brought a 0-0 draw at Doncaster Rovers in League One 2026/2027, a 3-2 home win over Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup 2026/2027 and a 1-3 win at Leyton Orient in League One 2026/2027.
Barnsley’s tough home start
The Seasiders are also in fine form having won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 fixtures, while Ian Evatt has transformed Blackpool into a footballing side that is set up to play from the back and use positional overloads to control phases. Blackpool have won their only 2 matches away from home and won't come into this one with any less momentum than the hosts. Blackpool's last 2 games saw them suffer a 1-4 home loss to Lincoln City in the EFL Cup 2026/2027, before running out 4-0 winners at home to Peterborough United in League One 2026/2027.
Goals in abundance
Over 2.5 goals at 7/10 and both teams to score Yes at 11/20 look like a decent shout here, with two teams going for it and with a clash of contrasting styles that will open the game up. The last 5 head-to-heads at this venue have seen the Tykes average 1.0 goals against the Seasiders, while Blackpool average 2.0 goals as visitors.
Blackpool have Dion Charles to target as their main goal threat and he's bagged 1 goal in his 3 League One 2026/2027 appearances so far. Neither side holds any sort of psychological advantage after splitting the spoils in the last 2 meetings 1-1.
