NEILL Collins is confident Barnsley can get the win they need to secure a play-off place at Blackpool tomorrow rather than have to endure a nervous final day next week.
The Reds, with two games to play, are fifth in League One, four points clear in the top six. They currently need three more points from two games to secure a place in the play-offs.
This week they drew 2-2 at home to Reading on Saturday then lost 3-2 at Portsmouth on Tuesday, with the hosts scoring two late goals to take promotion and the title.
The Reds have nine points from their last ten games and one from their most recent four.
Now they visit Blackpool on Saturday – one of the teams who could catch them – before concluding the season at home to mid-table Northampton Town from 12.30pm on April 27.
Head coach Collins told the Chronicle: “We need one win. We have two opportunities to do it. We want as many points as we can get.
“Whatever happens we will be ready for it. First and foremost we want three points in Blackpool.
“We should have had it on Tuesday but that performance showed we can match anyone on our day.
“It would be great to do it in front of a full away end in our last away league game.”
The Seasiders are eighth, three places and five points behind the Reds, as well as being three points off sixth-placed Oxford.
If Blackpool beat Barnsley, they will both be part of a final day race for the play-offs which could involve four teams.
A win would put the Reds definitely in the top six while a draw would end Blackpool’s chances and could be enough for Barnsley depending on seventh-placed Lincoln’s result at relegation-battling Cheltenham Town.
The Reds have sold out their 2,135 ticket allocation with a large crowd expected.
Collins said: “It’s Blackpool’s cup final and they have to win to have a chance of the play-offs. That will add something.
“It’s an excellent opportunity to put our recent results right against a good team.
“It will be a great atmosphere.
“I thought the players handled the atmosphere at Portsmouth the other night really well. We will need to do the exact same.”
Blackpool won 1-0 at relegated bottom club Carlisle United on Saturday, a third successive victory. They are unbeaten in 11 league games at home since November, winning seven and drawing four – with clean sheets in the last four.
Neil Critchley’s side have 45 points from 22 home games which is the fourth best record in the division. Only Lincoln have conceded fewer goals on their own turf.
They have not conceded home or away in four matches this month.
Their last eight games have seen either one or no goals. Collins said: “They are an excellent side.
“It’s easy to forget that Blackpool came down last season from the Championship so you would expect them to be challenging.
“They are very good defensively and have a good manager who has done it before.
“It could be tight like their recent games or like our game against Reading last week when both sides are going all out to win.”
Barnsley have the second best away record in the division with a club record 42 points but have lost their last three on their travels.
Whereas Barnsley made the long trip to Portsmouth in midweek, Blackpool have not played for a week.
Could freshness be a factor?
“Ask me that after the game. We’re dealing with human beings.
“They put a lot into the last four games, but just haven’t been rewarded. We’ve been to Charlton, Stevenage and Portsmouth.
“But they are young and fit lads who know three points secures play-offs.
“That should spur them on.
“I have no worries about energy levels. The boys have shown they are really up for the fight.”
Blackpool have already beaten Barnsley twice this season.
They won 1-0 at Oakwell in September, with a penalty by former Oakwell academy player Jordan Rhodes – now an injury doubt – following a foul by Corey O’Keeffe.
The Reds then visited Bloomfield Road in the EFL Trophy in December and lost 2-1 after John McAtee had put them in front.
The Seasiders have won the last four meetings, after doing the double over them in the 2021/22 Championship season.
This will be the 108th meeting of the two clubs with Barnsley winning 46 and losing 36.
