Wade Small celebrated a dream debut with a crucial winner for Blackpool in their Championship relegation 'six-pointer' against Barnsley at Oakwell.

The pacey winger joined the Tangerines from Barnsley's local rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, and scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 70th minute, firing in a luscious volley from the edge of the area.

Blackpool, who had not won at Barnsley in their last five attempts, had the better of the first half and could have taken the lead through Joe Martin's volley.

The Tykes could have leapfrogged their opponents with a win but never got into their passing rhythm, with the defeat heightening the threat of relegation at the South Yorkshire club.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Birmingham in midweek with Adam Hammill and Mounir El Haimour replacing Jon Macken and Marciano Van Homoet.

The visitors also sported two changes to their starting XI with Small handed his debut while Martin replaced Graeme Owens.

Neither side could get a stranglehold on the game early on and chances were few and far between.

It was the visitors who eventually threatened after 10 minutes when Small found Martin in the box, but the midfielder could only volley wide from the edge of the area.

Barnsley were second best for the first 20 minutes with Maltese strike duo Daniel Bogdanovic and Michael Mifsud kept at bay by the visiting defence.

The Reds finally had a shot on goal in the 34th minute with first Bobby Hassell firing wide then Rob Kozluk also failing to find the target with a speculative effort.

Hammill went close to giving the hosts the lead on the stroke of half time but the on-loan Liverpool man saw his 20-yard free-kick tipped round the post by Paul Rachubka.

The second half began much like the first with neither side showing enough quality to unlock their opponents' defence.

On the one rare occasion Blackpool breached the home defence DJ Campbell, who was in inspirational form against the Blades in midweek, volleyed wastefully over when he should have hit the target.

At the other end Hammill was proving a real handful and Rachubka had to be at his best to tip over the midfielder's dipping effort.

The save proved to be crucial as moments later the visitors took the lead through Small.

Martin was the creator as he delivered a pinpoint cross for Small to volley into the top corner to stun the home faithful.

Rachubka saved well from a Jamal Campbell-Ryce effort late on as the Reds saw their winless run extended to three games.

Teams:

Barnsley Muller, Hassell, Moore, Guedes, Kozluk, Hammill, Colace (Devaney 76), Campbell-Ryce, El Haimour, Bogdanovic (Macken 55), Mifsud.

Subs Not Used: Steele, Van Homoet, Rigters.

Booked: El Haimour, Moore.

Blackpool Rachubka, Coid (Edwards 20), Barker, Baptiste, Crainey, Small (Jorgensen 83), Southern, Adam, Martin, Campbell, Blackman (Ormerod 61).

Subs Not Used: Halstead, Owens.

Booked: Edwards, Small, Adam.

Goals: Small 70.

Att: 12,228

Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).