Barnsley lost 3-0 at home to Preston North End on Tuesday evening and remain four points adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone. 

The visitors raced into a 3-0 lead half-time, with the second and third the result of comical defending then the hosts were booed off at the interval.

It was a first home defeat in five games since the arrival of Gerhard Struber as head coach and a deserved one after easily the most disappointing performance under the Austrian.

He made two changes from the side that lost at Bristol City on Saturday. Kilian Ludewig made his first start in English football at left-back in place of Ben Williams, who dropped to the bench against his hometown club, while well-again Sami Radlinger replaced Brad Collins in goal. Joint top-scorer Cauley Woodrow returned to the bench after missing four matches through injury.

Conor Chaplin had an excellent chance in the fifth minute when he was put clean through by Jacob Brown but his shot from the edge of the box went wide of the bottom left corner via a slight touch by goalkeeper Declan Rudd. 

After that early scare, the visitors got on top and took the lead in the 18th minute after one of several intricate passing moves on the right of the home box. Following good work by Daniel Johnson and Allan Browne, right-back Darnell Fisher whipped in a low cross to Tom Barkhuizen who shot into the bottom right corner from eight yards out. 

Brown then saw a shot from 25 yards easily saved by Rudd diving to his left, but the visitors made it 2-0 after 34 minutes. The hapless Mads Andersen lost the ball in the right corner to Barkuizen who advanced into the and crossed to Josh Harrop whose close-range effort was blocked by Aapo Halme then Johnson found the bottom right corner from six yards.  

Marcel Ritzmaier then let fly with a 25-yard effort which Rudd sprang to his right to push away but the half ended with a disastrous goal for the hosts. Halme cleared the ball into Andersen which put Barhuizen clean through and his shot was half-saved by Radlinger but looped into the net. 

Very little happened in the second half as Preston seemed content with their lead while a shell-shocked home side could not break them down despite enjoying a lot of possession.

Struber took Kenny Dougall off nine minutes into the second half, with Woodrow getting his first action of 2020. That meant Mowatt moved to the base of the midfield diamond with Woodrow at its tip. Luke Thomas was replaced by Callum Styles who made his first appearance since coming on at 4-1 down in the 5-1 loss at Preston on October 5. 

Preston substitute Brad Potts, the former Barnsley man, fired wide from close range at a tight angle after meeting a right-wing cross. Radlinger then made his first save of the night in the 82nd minute as he moved to his right to easily gather a weak header. Harrop fired wide from close range after a good exchange of passes on the right of the box with former England international David Nugent. 

Barnsley (4-4-2 diamond): Radlinger; J Williams, Andersen, Halme, Ludewig; Dougall (Woodrow 54mins), Ritzmaier, Thomas (Styles 61), Mowatt; Brown, Chaplin (Schmidt 75).  Unused: Collins, Sibbick, Simoes, B Williams. Yellow cards: Woodrow. 

Preston (4-3-3): Rudd; Fisher, Davies, Bauer, Rafferty; Pearson, Johnson (Potts 67mins), Browne; Barkhuizen (Nugent 74), Harrop, Sinclair (Maguire 67) Unused: Ripley, Clarke, Ledson, Stockley. Yellow cards: Harrop.  Goals: Barkhuizen 19, 45; Johnson 34. 

AS IT HAPPENED
  •  
  •  
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 19:48pm
     
    1 An early chance for the home side as Darnell Fisher swipes a low cross away for a throw-in in a decent position.
  • 19:50pm
     
    3 Marcel Ritzmaier plays it down the left flank for Kilian Ludewig to get his first touch, but Darnell Fisher is across with a hard sliding challenge and another throw for the Reds on the left.
  • 19:51pm
     
    4 A throw for the visitors down ther same side of the pitch after Sami Radlinger shanks a clearance directly to Alan Browne.
  • 19:53pm
     
    5 Conor Chaplin with a great chance to put his side ahead, as he bursts past the defence to collect Jacob Brown's through ball on the right of goal and swings his right foot at it. It's a corner for the Reds on the opposite side after a good save by Declan Rudd.
  • 19:54pm
     
    7 The short corner comes out to Alex Mowatt who squares it to Kenny Dougall, whose effort from outside the box is blocked. That sparks a counter attack for Preston, as Alan Browne breaks up the pitch before being tackled by Jordan Williams who was sprinting back.
  • 19:56pm
     
    9 Conor Chaplin wins a corner on the left as he, Alex Mowatt and Marcel Ritzmaier exchange passes, but the ball in comes to nothing.
  • 20:03pm
     
    15 The Reds come under some pressure and debutant Kilian Ludewig displays some fine defending, first conceding a throw with a strong sliding challenge and then stopping the cross from Daniel Johnson on the right. Marcel Ritzmaier tries to play his way out and fails to relieve the pressure, before it's finally cleared.
  • 20:05pm
     
    18 Conor Chaplin concedes a free kick just inside Barnsley's half with a foul on Josh Harrop as he tries to recover the ball.
  • 20:06pm
     
    GOAL!
    19 Tom Barkhuizen converts a cross from Darnell Fisher on the right.
  • 20:08pm
     
    19 The visitors' goal came from some good work on the right between Fisher, Josh Harrop and Daniel Johnson, before the right-back slid a low cross across goal for Tom Barkhuizen to net from 7 yards.
  • 20:09pm
     
    22 Luke Thomas tries to get his side going with a surge up the right, but Ben Pearson follows him and nicks the ball away for a throw from deep.
  • 20:13pm
     
    25 Kilian Ludewig starts a move with a throw from the left, picking up the loose ball as Darnell Fisher picks it off and charging into the box, forcing a clearance from the defender.
  • 20:17pm
     
    29 Barnsley are repeatedly penned in on either flank as the visitors squeeze into tight spaces. It looks like they're attempting to stop Barnsley playing out from the back, and it's an effective tactic, either making them play a longer pass or picking off the shorter options.
  • 20:19pm
     
    32 The home side get a corner from the left, but Mads Andersen can't get his head to Marcel Ritzmaier's ball in and it's cleared.
  • 20:20pm
     
    33 Jacob Brown forces a save from Declan Rudd with a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box. It's collected fairly comfortable as it rolls towards the right hand post.
  • 20:21pm
     
    34 A little better from the Reds, a move starting on the right with a throw and coming across to Kilian Ludewig, whose low ball into the box is blocked.
  • 20:21pm
     
    GOAL!
    35 Daniel Johnson nets from close range after a shot is blocked.
  • 20:23pm
     
    35 Mads Andersen gave the ball away on the left of the box and Tom Barkhuizen played the ball into the box for Josh Harrop to strike. His shot was blocked by Aapo Halme and fell kindly for Daniel Johnson.
  • 20:27pm
     
    39 Better play from the Reds, who have been very poor so far. Alex Mowatt and Conor Chaplin advance playing the ball between them, and Chaplin cuts the ball back to Marcel Ritzmaier who forces a stop from Declan Rudd with a powerful left-footed effort from the edge of the box.
  • 20:29pm
     
    42 Another cross is collected by Declan Rudd, who bar the saves from Conor Chaplin and Marcel Ritzmaier has looked very comfortable in the Lilywhites' goal. Alex Mowatt was the player who swung it in from the left.
  • 20:31pm
     
    43 A free kick is given to Preston on the left and it's played into the box by Josh Harrop, before coming to Ben Pearson who hits it well over the cross bar from the edge of the box.
  • 20:33pm
     
    GOAL!
    45 Tom Barkhuizen capitalises on another defensive error to slide it under Sami Radlinger. Aapo Halme tried to clear but got it horribly wrong to let the striker in for his second.
  • 20:35pm
     
    45+1 Alex Mowatt this time with the mistake, but Scott Sinclair fires it over to let the Reds off. Could've easily been a fourth.
  • 20:35pm
     
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Preston North End 3. A very poor half from the Reds.
  • 20:50pm
     
    The teams are now back on the pitch for the second half. Barnsley's players were out a few minutes before the visitors passing the ball around.
  • 20:51pm
     
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 20:53pm
     
    48 Alan Browne heads over on the far post, after a free kick is sent into the box by Josh Harrop.
  • 20:58pm
     
    51 A corner from the right by Josh Harrop, and Ben Davies gets his head to it but it's blocked and cleared well by Kenny Dougall. Moments before, Mads Andersen smashed a clearance high into the East Stand - it looks at least like the Reds defenders have learnt how to clear the ball.
  • 20:59pm
     
    53 Jacob Brown wins a corner on the left which Marcel Ritzmaier delivers, but it's easily cleared.
  • 20:59pm
     
    SUB OFF
    54 Kenny Dougall
  • 21:00pm
     
    SUB ON
    54 Cauley Woodrow
  • 21:01pm
     
    55 Jacob Brown turns his man in the middle of the park and releases Luke Thomas, who has Cauley Woodrow ahead of him making a run into the box. The midfielder elects to shoot, but it's blocked.
  • 21:03pm
     
    57 The Reds are putting on some pressure. Marcel Ritzmaier's ball into the box is blocked on the left, and comes out to Jordan Williams - but the full back can't slide it into the box and it's cleared again.
  • 21:06pm
     
    60 Tom Barkhuizen is almost through on goal straight from the keeper's ball upfield, but Mads Andersen recovers well to win a goal kick.
  • 21:06pm
     
    SUB OFF
    61 Luke Thomas
  • 21:07pm
     
    SUB ON
    61 Callum Styles
  • 21:10pm
     
    65 A decent move breaks down as Callum Styles attempts to play Kilian Ludewig down the right flank but overhits his pass, and the ball goes out.
  • 21:12pm
     
    SUB OFF
    67 Scott Sinclair
  • 21:13pm
     
    SUB ON
    67 Sean Maguire
  • 21:14pm
     
    SUB OFF
    67 Daniel Johnson
  • 21:14pm
     
    SUB ON
    67 Brad Potts
  • 21:17pm
     
    70 A good passing move in the middle of the park sees Cauley Woodrow play it out to Jordan Williams on the left, who lofts a through ball over the defence and into the box. Conor Chaplin can't stretch to get his foot to it and Declan Rudd collects.
  • 21:19pm
     
    SUB OFF
    74 Tom Barkhuizen
  • 21:19pm
     
    SUB ON
    74 David Nugent
  • 21:20pm
     
    SUB OFF
    75 Conor Chaplin
  • 21:21pm
     
    SUB ON
    75 Patrick Schmidt
  • 21:22pm
     
    76 Callum Styles, running for a ball inside from Patrick Schmidt on the right, slides to collect it on the edge of the box as Alan Browne also makes an attempt. The referee blows for a foul the visitors' way, which angers the home fans - they thought Styles got the ball, which looked to be the case.
  • 21:25pm
     
    79 Barnsley keep knocking on the door, but their crosses are either misplaced or straight onto the heads of the Preston defenders. The second half has had a pretty limp atmosphere almost since the whistle was blown.
  • 21:28pm
     
    82 A lot of the home fans are heading home as the game begins to resemble a training match. Preston look very comfortable.
  • 21:29pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    83 Cauley Woodrow receives a caution after kicking the ball away following a free kick given to the visitors in their own half.
  • 21:32pm
     
    86 Dave Nugent ends a passing move by sliding the ball just wide of the right post from Josh Harrop's low cross. The away side practically walked the ball into the box.
  • 21:34pm
     
    88 Kilian Ludewig fires over the bar from 20 yards out as the ball is played infield from the left by Marcel Ritzmaier.
  • 21:36pm
     
    90 Alex Mowatt strikes from outside the box and it's cleared for a corner from the right. Marcel Ritzmaier takes, then swings a ball into the box which Cauley Woodrow dives to get his head on on the far post. The forward is called offside, though.
  • 21:38pm
     
    90+1 Another corner from the right as Kilian Ludewig receives the ball on the right and advances, his cross blocked. However, it's easily cleared again.
  • 21:39pm
     
    90+3 Josh Harrop is caught on the edge of the box as the visitors advance down the left, and it looks like he'll take the free kick.
  • 21:40pm
     
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Preston North End 3.