An inspired Adam Phillips bagged another brace as Barnsley secured a vital 2-1 win over Derby County to blow the League One promotion race wide open.
The visitors took an early lead but Phillips levelled with a stunning goal before half-time then put the hosts in front in the second half.
It was an even game of few chances but Barnsley shaded it overall, then defended very well late on to hold on for all three points.
Bolton Wanderers were beaten so Barnsley are three points off the top two with a game in hand on second-placed Derby. Bolton visit Oakwell a week on Tuesday.
Donovan Pines made his full debut, in place of the benched Jamie McCart, while John McAtee came in for Sam Cosgrove who also dropped to the bench despite scoring at Fleetwood.
Derby had a chance in the first minute when a free-kick by goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was headed on twice before Max Bird nodded tamely at Liam Roberts.
At the other end in the second minute, Devante Cole headed a left-wing cross but it just floated into Wildsmith’s hands.
Barnsley had settled into the game well but Derby then had a series of set pieces which led to the opener. A corner from former Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane on the right was headed by Sonny Bradley to Eiran Cashin whose header was nodded off the line by Nicky Cadden. From the next corner seconds later, Bradley powered a header into the Barnsley net. It was the exact same corner routine as the one seconds earlier and the reds failed to deal with it again.
Phillips levelled when a Cadden cross was headed out to him and he superbly took the ball down on his chest then blasted a 22-yard shot just inside the left post.
In the second half, Cadden ran onto a long ball on the left of the box but his volley was straight at the goalkeeper.
The Reds took the lead midway through the second half when the superb Phillips headed home a right-wing corner by Cadden.
It took until injury-time for Derby to have a second half shot, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s long-range effort from the left wing caught safely by Roberts.
Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; De Gevigney, Pines, Earl; Williams, Phillips (Cotter 87mins), Connell, Kane, Cadden (O’Keeffe 90+6); Cole (Grant 90+6), McAtee (Cosgrove 58).
Unused: Killip, McCart, Marsh.
Yellow cards: Roberts, Earl, Cosgrove, Cole.
Goals: Phillips 33, 66.
Derby (3-4-2-1): Wildsmith; Nelson, Bradley, Cashin; Wilson, Adams (Smith 89mins), Hourihane (Barkhuizen 61), Elder (Nyambe 77mins); Sibley (Gayle 61), Bird; Mendez-Laing.
Unused: Loach, Thompson, Fornah.
Goals: Bradley 18.
