The Super Reds equalled a club record for ten games unbeaten away from home in the same season with a 3-2 win at League One’s bottom club Carlisle United on Tuesday night.
Carlisle took an early lead but skipper Jordan Williams levelled with a superb long-range strike before half time.
John McAtee scored just after half-time then Jon Russell added a third. Carlisle pulled one back late on but could not find an equaliser.
After a very poor first half hour or so, Barnsley were well on top after equalising and played some nice football at times, before a nervy finish. They remain fourth, five points off the top two.
Liam Roberts was injured so Ben Killip started in goal. Top-scorer Devante Cole was dropped to the bench, after a seven-game goalless run, and replaced up front by Sam Cosgrove.
Corey O’Keeffe came in for Jamie McCart so Jordan Williams moved back into the back three. Jon Russell came in for the suspended Herbie Kane in midfield releasing Connell to get further forward. Adam Phillips and John McAtee played either side of Cosgrove in a front three.
Carlisle opened the scoring in the tenth minute when, after a long ball down the left was headed on by Jack Robinson, Barnsley defenders were all over the shop and Luke Armstrong was clean through to beat Killip. It was Carlisle’s first goal in the first half at home since the opening day of the season and the eighth time in 12 games the Reds had gone behind in the opening 20 minutes.
Cosgrove could have and possibly should have levelled when he met a Nicky Cadden cross from the left but headed into the ground and wide. Killip twice easily held Harrison Neal shots from outside the box.
Cosgrove then shot well over from 20 yards after a decent counter-attacking move involving Phillips and O’Keeffe.
Barnsley equalised out of nowhere when Captain Williams smashed into the top left corner from 25 yards for his first goal of the season and first for 13 months.
McAtee almost made it 2-1 minutes later when his close-range header from Phillips’ clever right-wing cross hit the underside of the bar.
The referee waved away claims for penalties at both ends of the pitch after Jack Diamond and Luca Connell each went down in the box.
Cosgrove then had a 25-yard strike turned over by the goalkeeper after a good one, two with Connell.
In the second half, Connell won the ball and put McAtee through on the left of the box but a home defender made an excellent last-ditch tackle.
It was 2-1 to Barnsley on 49 minutes when Connell received the ball from Phillips and played a superb through ball to Cosgrove whose cross from the right of the box was tapped in from close range by McAtee.
Killip then saved a Diamond shot before, at the other end, McAtee was played in on the right but denied by goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
Carlisle’s Paul Huntington headed wide from Taylor Charters’ free-kick.
It was 3-1 when a corner was cleared but O’Keeffe’s excellent left-wing cross was nodded in at the back post by Russell.
Sub Aiden Marsh headed wide from a left-wing Cadden free-kick.
Carlisle pulled one back on 87 minutes when, after a defensive error, Armstrong went through on the left and squared for Daniel Butterworth to net. Carlisle had several set pieces late on but Barnsley survived.
Barnsley (3-5-2): Killip; Williams, de Gevigney, Earl; O’Keeffe, Russell, Connell, Cadden; Phillips (Cole 59mins), Cosgrove (Marsh 73), McAtee (Grant 73).
Unused: Ravenhill, Benson, Cotter, McCart.
Yellow cards: O’Keeffe, Killip, Williams.
Goals: Williams 33, McAtee 49, Russell 77.
Carlisle (3-5-2): Lewis; Lavelle, Huntington, Mellish; Emmanuel, Neal, McGeouch (Butterworth 81mins), Charters (McCalmont 73), Robinson; Armstrong, Diamond (Gibson 81).
Unused: Breeze, Armer, Maguire, Barclay.
Goals: Armstrong 10, Butterworth 87.
The reds entertain Cheltenham next up at Oakwell on Saturday.
COYR
