Jack Marriott opened the scoring from a Rooney free-kick just before the break then impressive Barnsley substitute Elliot Simoes netted his first goal for the Reds early in the second half, only for the hosts to score again soon after.
There was an element of sloppiness about Barnsley’s performance as they gave the ball away several times in their half while the hosts found it easy to pass through their high defensive line.
They’re now second-from-bottom and three points adrift from safety ahead of their next league game at home to Huddersfield Town on January 11. Barnsley were wearing black armbands in memory of former player Chris Barker whose death was announced earlier in the day. There was an applause for him in the 39th minute and the away fans chanted ‘there’s only one Chrissy Barker’.
The hosts missed a huge chance in the tenth minute when, after Schmidt lost the ball and Derby advanced down the left, Martyn Waghorn crossed low and Marriott was in yards of space with the goal gaping but shot wide of the left post ten yards out.
Marriott wasted another golden opportunity midway through the first half when, after a misplaced pass by Bambo Diaby, Duane Holmes’ deflected ball put him clean through on goal but Sami Radlinger rushed off his line to make an excellent one-on-one save.
Curtis Davies then headed wide from close range at the back post from Max Bird’s right-wing corner.
Bahre was brought off after 26 minutes for youngster Simoes, 18 days after Struber took him off after 31 minutes in the 5-3 win over QPR at Oakwell.
Barnsley’s first chance came soon after when a low Chaplin cross from the left led to Alex Mowatt scrambling a close-range effort which was gathered easily by goalkeeper Ben Hamer.
Marriott had his third excellent chance of the first half on 40 minutes when the impressive Holmes played him through on goal with a pass through the high Barnsley back line and he tried to chip the ball over Radlinger but screwed it well wide.
Marriott eventually scored just before half-time when he beat Mads Andersen to a Rooney free-kick and volleyed into the bottom left corner from eight yards out.
County almost extended their lead early in the second half but Radlinger brilliantly sprang to his right to touch Matt Clarke’s header onto the right post.
Barnsley equalised when Chaplin’s shot from Jordan Williams’ low cross from the right wing was parried by Hamer then turned in by Simoes – who was two when Rooney made his Premier League debut – for his first professional goal.
Rooney headed a good chance wide but it was 2-1 when Andre Wisdom beat Mowatt on the right wing and fired in a low cross which was met by Waghorn who found the bottom right corner.
Marriott should have made it 3-1 when a ball down the left wing put him clean through but again Radlinger was out quickly to deny him. Chaplin forced Hamer to beat away an effort from the right of the box in the 86th minute.
Simoes thought he should have had a penalty when his shot hit Davies’ hand but the hosts held on to win.
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19:45pm
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19:47pm
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19:48pm
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19:54pm
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19:56pm
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19:59pm
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20:03pm
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20:05pm
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20:09pm
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20:11pm
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20:11pmSUB OFF
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20:11pmSUB ON
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20:12pm
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20:15pm
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20:19pm
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20:20pm
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20:21pm
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20:22pm
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20:25pm
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20:26pm
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20:28pm
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20:31pmGOAL!
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20:32pm
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20:33pm
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20:46pm
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20:47pm
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20:49pm
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20:50pm
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20:53pmGOAL!
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20:54pm
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20:55pm
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20:57pmSUB OFF
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20:57pmSUB ON
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20:59pmGOAL!
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21:01pm
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21:05pm
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21:06pm
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21:08pm
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21:09pm
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21:13pm
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21:15pmSUB OFF
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21:16pmSUB ON
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21:17pm
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21:19pmYELLOW CARD
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21:20pm
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21:22pm
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21:24pm
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21:24pmSUB OFF
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21:24pmSUB ON
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21:28pm
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21:29pm
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21:32pm
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21:32pmADDED TIME
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21:35pm
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21:36pm
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21:37pm