McDonald can see light for Seasiders
BLACKPOOL manager Neil McDonald is hoping his side have turned a corner after they came from behind to snatch a draw against Barnsley.
Conor Hourihane had given Barnsley an early lead but half-time substitute Jack Redshaw equalised after the break to earn Blackpool their first point at home this season.
The Seasiders are still without a win at Bloomfield Road since January 31, while the draw means Barnsley have won just one of their last five games.
McDonald made two changes at half-time and believes they altered the outcome.
“I took two people off at half time but I could have taken anybody off to be fair because I thought they were all rubbish,” McDonald said.
“We were really poor first half. Personnel and systems go together and we changed both at half time and it worked second half.
“They showed a lot of character and they’ve come out tops for me. That’s a good sign for the future. I think it’s getting there. It’s nice to hear people say that we might have turned a corner.
“If we play like we played second half all the way through then we will pick up lots and lots of points.”
Barnsley took the lead in just the seventh minute. Marley Watkins went on a jinking run down the right before crossing to Houri- hane, who scuffed his shot into the bottom corner.
Blackpool missed a great chance to equalise four minutes later, but Henry Cameron struck wide from six yards.
McDonald’s side equalised after 55 minutes. A slick move resulted in Redshaw being slipped clean through by Brad Potts and driving low into the far corner.
And the Seasiders almost scored through Lloyd Jones but the centre back missed his header from a corner before Colin Doyle had to acrobatically deny Hourihane giving Barnsley the lead after 77 minutes.
And Barnsley boss Lee Johnson believes a draw was a fair result.
“We were dominant in the first half without having enough opportunities,” Johnson said.
“I’m disappointed to lose the lead but that’s what you get. I bet if you watch the game back we controlled the second half. They went to a diamond formation which means you should kill them in wide areas.
“In the second half obviously they threw caution to the wind and we got into great areas but didn’t have the end product or the final ball.
“Generally we had opportunities and a lot of territory but not quite enough gumption in the final third. Overall it was probably a fair result.”