Barnsley suffered a second successive loss as they went down 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Former Reds striker Adam Armstrong put the hosts in front at the end of a first half in which the visitors created several chances. Blackburn made it 2-0 then Romal Palmer scored his first professional goal in the 90th minute.
The result meant Barnsley fell down two places to 16th and are six points clear of the bottom three.
Valerien Ismael brought Herbie Kane – who made his first start for the club – and Luke Thomas into the starting line-up for Matty James and Dominik Frieser who were both on the bench.
Blackburn had the first shot of the match when Tom Trybull let fly from almost 30 yards in the fifth minute but Jack Walton got down to his left to save easily.
Kane then curled a free-kick from a similar distance towards the top right corner but Thomas Kaminski caught it.
That was the start of a dominant spell for the visitors who pressed their hosts into errors and passed the ball around well while creating a series of chances.
Mads Andersen headed a Callum Styles corner over the bar when well-marked six yards out then Conor Chaplin's 15-yard shot was deflected just wide of the bottom right corner after Callum Brittain's deflected cross was half-cleared.
Chaplin then shot straight at Kaminski from just inside the box after a good run and pass by Styles on the left wing.
Cauley Woodrow headed wide from 12 yards out after Styles crossed from the right following a short corner by Kane.
Blackburn slowly grew into the game and should have struck in the 43rd minute when Andersen allowed the ball to get to Ben Brereton on the right wing and his low cross was met by ex-Red Adam Armstrong whose six-yard shot was well-saved by the foot of Walton.
Armstrong did score seconds later when a ball into the right of the box was met by Ryan Nyambe who got away from Andersen and found the Championship's top-scorer to smash in.
In the second half, Woodrow volleyed over a half-chance eight yards out after Kane's long throw was flicked on. Styles then blazed over from just inside the box after a Woodrow shot was blocked.
Blackburn had two chances in quick succession, both created by the dangerous Armstrong, as Brereton's shot from an impossible angle on the byline on the right was blocked by Walton who also denied substitute left-back Amari'i Bell from eight yards out after he beat a man.
Ismael brought on Frieser and Victor Adeboyejo before the hour-mark for Chaplin and Thomas.
The visitors almost levelled on 63 minutes when Andersen's powerful header from a Kane corner was brilliantly clawed out of the top right corner by Kaminski.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 77th minute when a cross was headed out to substitute Sam Gallagher who fired into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.
Ismael brought on Palmer and George Miller for Styles and Woodrow. Frieser forced another save from Kaminski after he did well to bring the ball down, beat a man and shoot from 20 yards but his effort was tipped around the left post.
The Reds halved the deficit in the 90th minute when a fine pass by Brittain found Adeboyejo on the right and he broke into the box then saw his shot blocked before Palmer's deflected effort found the back of the net.
Kane had two free-kicks deep into injury-time, one of which was headed well wide by Andersen from the edge of the box.
Blackburn; Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Wharton (Carter 76mins), Douglas (Bell 15); Trybull (Johnson 65), Rothwell, Holtby; Elliott (Gallagher 65), Brereton, Armstrong. Unused: Pears, Carter, Buckley, Downing, Chapman, Dolan. Yellow cards: Armstrong. Goals: Armstrong 44, Gallagher 77.
Barnsley: Walton; Solbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt (Oduor 67mins), Kane, Styles (Palmer 82); Thomas (Frieser 57mins), Woodrow (Miller 82), Chaplin (Adeboyejo 57). Unused: Collins, Moon, James, Schmidt. Goals: Palmer 90.
AS IT HAPPENED
  • 3:01pm
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:02pm
    1 Foul on Michal Helik in the first minute and Barnsley have a free-kick in their half
  • 3:03pm
    Barnsley already pressing more than on Tuesday against Brentford. Alex Mowatt wins the ball high up the pitch but Styles' cross hits Thomas and goes out for a goal kick
  • 3:06pm
    5 First chance of the game as Tom Trybull shoots from about 30 yards. It's well hit but Walton gets down to his left to save fairly comfortably
  • 3:08pm
    7 Conor Chaplin is fouled and Barnsley have a free-kick 30 yards out
  • 3:10pm
    8 Now Barnsley have their first shot on goal, also from 30 yards as Kane curls the free-kick towards the top right corner but Thomas Kaminski catches it. It was a good effort but just lacked a bit of pace and power
  • 3:11pm
    11 Barnsley corner after Chaplin back heels the ball to Brittain whose cross is blocked
  • 3:12pm
    12 Styles' right wing corner is headed over the bar by Mads Andersen six yards out. It was a difficult chance as he was running in to meet a ball which was quite high and he was under pressure from his marker
  • 3:13pm
    13 Barnsley come close again. Brittain's deflected cross is headed out to Chaplin 15 yards out and his shot is deflected for a corner.
  • 3:14pm
    14 Barry Douglas is coming off injured with Amari’i Bell coming on
  • 3:15pm
    15 Kane's corner is cleared
  • 3:15pm
    Barnsley have started very brightly here with Andersen and Chaplin coming close in the last few minutes. They are passing the ball well and putting their hosts under pressure with their constant pressing
  • 3:17pm
    16 Another Reds chance. Good run and cross on the left by Styles to Chaplin whose 16 yard shot is straight at Kaminski
  • 3:17pm
    Blackburn really rattled here. They are trying to pass out from the back but losing the ball often against their pumped-up visitors . The Reds just need to be more clinical when they have the ball near the home area
  • 3:22pm
    Almost halfway through the first half and Barnsley have been on top. They will be disappointed not to have taken the lead
  • 3:22pm
    21 Woodrow turns nicely on the ball and shoots from about 25 yards out and it is deflected wide for a corner
  • 3:23pm
    22 Kane plays the corner short to Styles whose cross from the right is headed by Woodrow ten yards out but he nods it well wide
  • 3:27pm
    Possibly the most dominant Barnsley have been in a game this season without scoring. Andersen and Woodrow have sent good headed chances off target while Chaplin has come close twice in the box, once seeing an effort deflected wide then forcing a save from Kaminski. 0-0, 25mins
  • 3:31pm
    Half an hour gone now and the game has become a bit more even. Barnsley still have created by far the better chances. They look dangerous on the break
  • 3:33pm
    32 Chaplin wins a free-kick on the right after Blackburn again lose the ball in their half and Kane intercepts this time
  • 3:34pm
    33 Styles' right wing free-kick is cleared then both Kane and Thomas have shots blocked, with the second going behind for a left wing corner
  • 3:35pm
    34 Styles' corner from the left. Andersen and Sollbauer win headers but it is cleared for a throw
  • 3:39pm
    Approaching the final five minutes of this half. Blackburn, the division's top-scorers have offered nothing except an early long rang shot which was easily saved. Barnsley could be a couple of goals up after creating several chances in the first 25 minutes
  • 3:42pm
    Herbie Kane is having a very good game so far, winning the ball a lot in the middle and playing decent passes
  • 3:44pm
    42 Big chance for the home side. Mads Andersen allows Ben Brereton to get on the ball on the right wing and cross low into the box for ex-Red Adam Armstrong who shoots from eight yards out but Walton
  • 3:44pm
    GOAL!
    Adam Armstrong nets against his former club
  • 3:47pm
    A ball into the box on the right is met by Nyambe who gets ahead of Andersen and passes to Armstrong who blasts in from close range
  • 4:05pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:08pm
    48 Herbie Kane takes a long thrown from the right. It is headed on then Woodrow volleys over about seven yards out and claims it was deflected but a goal kick is given
  • 4:11pm
    52 Excellent Kane lofted pass into the box from Brittain on the right. He is only eight eight yards out at a tight angle but tries to cross and gets now power
  • 4:12pm
    53 A corner from the right leads to Woodrow's shot being blocked then Styles fires wide of the top right corner from just inside the box
  • 4:13pm
    53 Armstrong's pace is a threat for Blackburn. he gets the ball to Brereton who is on the byline on the right of the box when he shoots from an impossible angle and Walton blocks
  • 4:14pm
    54 Big chance for Amari’i Bell after Armstrong causes chaos again and finds the left back who beats a man but fires straight at Walton from six yards out
  • 4:16pm
    Double change for the Reds as Frieser and Adeboyejo replace Thomas and Chaplin
  • 4:21pm
    61 An incredible run by Callum Brittain past three Blackburn players then he decides not to pass to Adeboyejo who is free on the left and sends a 20-yard shot well over
  • 4:21pm
    62 Brittain wins a corner on the right
  • 4:22pm
    63 Kane's corner is met by Mads Andersen who is free ten yards out on the left and powerfully heads towards goal but Kaminski makes an excellent save
  • 4:22pm
    63 A corner from the other side is now cleared
  • 4:23pm
    Barnsley still creating plenty of chances but cannot find the leveller
  • 4:24pm
    Blackburn bring on Sam Gallagher and Bradley Johnson for Harvey Elliott and Tom Trybull
  • 4:26pm
    66 Decent chance for Brereton as the ball breaks kindly for him and he breaks through on goal on the left but badly scuffs the 12 yard shot wide
  • 4:26pm
    Mowatt off for Oduor. That means Styles will go into the centre with Oduor left wing back
  • 4:28pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Adam Armstrong booked for pushing Jack Walton
  • 4:29pm
    70 Kane's corner from the right is cleared
  • 4:32pm
    72 Blackburn corner on the right. It is cleared but a home player is down in the box and needs treatment
  • 4:32pm
    Andersen also down for Barnsley but now getting to his feet
  • 4:35pm
    Blackburn's Scott Wharton has to come off after the clash of heads with Andersen. Hayden Carter is on
  • 4:36pm
    2-0 Blackburn
  • 4:37pm
    GOAL!
    Sam Gallagher smashes into the bottom right corner from just outside the box after a cross is headed out to him
  • 4:39pm
    That might be that
  • 4:39pm
    80 Now a corner from the left is cleared and Brereton shoots straight at Walton who saves easily
  • 4:41pm
    Double change for the Reds. George Miller comes on for Cauley Woodrow and Romal Palmer replaces Callum Styles
  • 4:45pm
    85 Great work by Frieser on the left to bring down a long ball, beat a man and shoot which is tipped wide. Kane then puts in two corners, with the first cleared over the bar by a defender and the second going over everyone
  • 4:47pm
    Three minutes of normal time remain. If Barnsley score now, it could get interesting
  • 4:48pm
    GOAL!
    Romal Palmer with his first career goal!
  • 4:50pm
    A great pass by the impressive Callum Brittain on the right to Adeboyejo who breaks into the box from the right and has a shot which is blocked by Palmer's deflected effort goes in from 15 yards
  • 4:53pm
    90+5 Adeboyejo wins a free-kick on the right. Kane takes and Andersen heads from the edge of the box but well wide
  • 4:55pm
    90+6 Another free-kick. Seconds left. Kane will take again. But it is half cleared and the final whistle goes
  • 4:55pm
    FULL-TIME: Blackburn 2, Barnsley 1.