MICHAL HELIK’S stoppage-time strike earned Barnsley a dramatic derby victory.

A scrappy game was three minutes over the 90 when the Polish defender poked home his second goal of the game from close range.

Helik had cancelled out Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s opener for Huddersfield with a 21st-minute equaliser.

A scrappy match had looked to be drifting towards a draw as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Barnsley, aiming to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Swansea, made one change, with left-wing-back Callum Styles returning from suspension to replace Clarke Oduor, who dropped to the bench.

Huddersfield, whose boss Carlos Corberan signed a new contract through to 2024 on Christmas Eve, fielded the same starting side which beat Watford 2-0 at home in the previous match.

Both sides went into the clash having taken 28 points from 20 games this season.

Barnsley began in lively style, and Cauley Woodrow brought two good close-range saves from Ryan Schofield, first with a header, then a shot, in the opening five minutes.

But Huddersfield grew into the game, and after Lewis O’Brien’s cross narrowly evaded the stretching Fraizer Campbell, Edmonds-Green gave the visitors a 13th-minute lead with a close-range shot after a well-worked short corner routine.

After a neat through ball from Jonathan Hogg split the home defence, Campbell slid a low shot just wide, but by the 21st minute, Barnsley were level thanks to Helik.

The Polish defender headed his second goal of the season from close in after Huddersfield failed to deal with a corner.

Alex Mowatt and Woodrow both had shots blocked either side of an off-target attempt from Huddersfield’s Juninho Bucuna as the sides reached half-time on level terms.

Barnsley had an escape early in the second half when Bacuna put in a dangerous swirling cross from the right, but neither Edmonds-Green nor Naby Saar could make contact.

Then Hogg had a shot blocked as Huddersfield continued to push forward.

Victor Adeboyejo, on as a substitute for Dominik Frieser, shot wide from outside the area, then produced an acrobatic overhead kick, but was thwarted by a great save from Schofield.

With wind and rain doing little to help the fluency of the game, Helik settled it when he pounced to finish off from Mads Andersen’s header.

Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt (Palmer, 86), James (Kane, 72), Styles; Frieser (Adeboyejo, 60), Woodrow (Miller, 86), Chaplin (Thomas, 72). Subs not used: Moon, Oduor, Schmidt, Collins.

Huddersfield: Schofield, Pipa, Edmonds-Green, Saar, Toffolo, Hogg, Eiting (Pritchard, 70), O'Brien, Bacuna, Mbenza (Diakhaby, 80), Campbbell. Subs not used: Vallejo, Duhaney, Harratt, Crichlow, Brown, Rowe, Hamer.

Referee; David Webb.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 1:44pm
    Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle’s live text coverage of Barnsley’s Boxing Day game at home to Huddersfield Town from 3pm.
  • 1:49pm
    Team news is expected at 2pm. The Reds are still without defender Jordan Williams, who is from Huddersfield and played for the Terriers, but Callum Styles is likely to return from suspension at left wing-back in place on Clarke Oduor.
  • 2:05pm
    Team news is in. Barnsley: Walton; Brittain, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, Styles; James, Mowatt; Frieser, Chaplin, Woodrow.
  • 2:06pm
    Subs: Collins, Moon, Oduor, Palmer, Kane, Thomas, Miller, Schmidt, Adeboyejo.
  • 2:06pm
    Huddersfield: Schofield; Pipa, Edmonds-Green, Sarr, Toffolo; Hogg, Mbenza, O’Brien; Bacuna, Eiting, Campbell. Subs: Hamer, Vallejo, Pritchard, Diakhaby, Duhaney, Harratt, Crichlow, Brown, Rowe.
  • 2:07pm
    The Reds – whose three-game winning run ended with a 2-0 loss at Swansea City on Saturday – are 13th in the Championship with 28 points from 20 games. They are five points off the top six and 12 clear of the bottom three, while they have the fourth most points of any club since Valerien Ismael was appointed.
  • 2:08pm
    The Terriers are 12th in the table, having moved ahead of the Reds on goal difference after a 2-0 win at home to Watford on Saturday.
  • 2:09pm
    Having beaten Wycombe Wanderers and Preston North End, the Reds will be looking for a third successive home victory for the second time this season after winning Ismael’s first three at Oakwell.
  • 2:12pm
    Ismael said: “We know it is a derby but for us it is the next game and we just need three points. They are an opponent who had a difficult season last season and is more stable this season – this is similar to us.”
  • 2:13pm
    Ismael added: “Normally they are a possession-based team with good transition forward, their manager has done a good job. We have had days to recover and be fresh because we missed our intensity in Swansea. The Swansea pitch was the worst I have ever seen and ours is very good.”
  • 2:16pm
    Ismael also said: “We have used every training session to work with the guys, work on our principles and it has been good preparation. “I have seen new motivation and intensity in training this week.”
  • 2:22pm
    The Reds have had a full week in training for the first time in a month, after playing nine matches in 28 days. Ismael has been concerned by conceding in the first five minutes of each of the last three games and by the set piece goals netted by Brentford, Preston and Swansea. He said: “A big task is to start without conceding an early goal. We want to start strong and keep our intensity high. The set piece goals are really really frustrating. It is not because the opponent is very strong. We are making big mistakes. We have worked on it this week.”
  • 2:24pm
    This will be the first time Ismael has experienced football at Christmas as, although he played for Crystal Palace in 1998, he signed in January. He said: “This is a new situation for me and for my family. Normally at Christmas we would be on a skiing holiday but now it is completely new. I try to stay focused and do my job.”
  • 2:26pm
    Huddersfield have not won in five away games, losing three and drawing two, while they have not scored in their last four. They have conceded the most away goals in the division this season with 19 in ten games.
  • 2:32pm
    They are managed by Carlos Corberan who was Leeds United’s under 23s coach for the previous three seasons, working with Aapo Halme and Clarke Oduor who have since moved to Barnsley.
  • 2:35pm
    Last season, the Reds lost 2-1 in Huddersfield under caretaker Adam Murray in October then won at Oakwell by the same scoreline in January with goals by Conor Chaplin and Alex Mowatt.That was their first win over the Terriers in five attempts.
  • 2:37pm
    Barnsley have not lost on Boxing Day since 2014 when they went down 1-0 at Preston North End. Since then they have won two and drawn two, including last year’s 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion.
  • 2:44pm
    Callum Styles said: “We will be looking for another win. With it being a derby, we turned the tide at Sheffield Wednesday so there’s no reason we can’t do the same against Huddersfield. There will be a bit more fight and aggression in a derby so hopefully we can manage that and get the three points.”
  • 2:49pm
    The warm ups are almost complete now as the players leave the pitch, to return in just over ten minutes.
  • 2:58pm
    The Reds have made their way out onto the pitch. Kick-off in a few minutes.
  • 3:01pm
    The visitors get the game underway.
  • 3:02pm
    1 Matty James concedes a free kick in the opening few seconds, which the Terriers do little with. The ball goes up the other end and Alex Mowatt presses the 'keeper into a mistake.
  • 3:02pm
    2 Throw in on the right for Barnsley, and another as the ball is cleared.
  • 3:03pm
    2 Long throw into the box is cleared by Rarmani Edmonds-Green for a corner.
  • 3:04pm
    3 The corner is nodded backwards by Mads Andersen on the front post and directed towards goal by Cauley Woodrow, but Ryan Schofield holds it.
  • 3:07pm
    5 Huddersfield get a throw towards the left corner flag, it's sliced into the air by Naby Sarr and Cauley Woodrow puts the defender under pressure. Moments later, the striker turns Callum Styles' cross towards goal but can't get enough purchase on the ball to trouble the 'keeper.
  • 3:10pm
    9 Fraizer Campbell stretches to meet a low cross from the left, but he can't properly get to the ball and watches it roll past him. The first real chance for the visitors who are being pressed well by Barnsley.
  • 3:12pm
    10 Matty James does well to win and keep the ball in the middle but his attempted through ball is too short for Conor Chaplin who was advancing into the box.
  • 3:14pm
    13 Goal for the visitors. Rarmani Edmonds-Green heads in from a well worked corner.
  • 3:20pm
    18 Mads Andersen wins the ball on the halfway and takes a few touches past Town's midfielders. It's played down the right but the move stops there as Callum Styles is marshalled away from the ball.
  • 3:22pm
    21 Goal for Barnsley. Michal Helik nods it in after Matty James cross is sent across goal by Cauley Woodrow.
  • 3:25pm
    The corner was a short one from Matty James, who played a one-two with Callum Styles and sent a looping ball towards the back post where Cauley Woodrow managed to get his head to it. The ball careened off the cross bar and bounced back out after hitting the ground, but it had clearly crossed the line.
  • 3:28pm
    27 Barnsley get a penalty shout as Dominik Frieser is held back by Rarmani Edmonds-Green and goes to ground. Referee waves play on.
  • 3:31pm
    YELLOW CARD
    29 Michal Helik concedes a free kick after Ryan Schofield clears the ball. He's shown a yellow card after jumping into the back of Juninho Bacuna.
  • 3:32pm
    31 The Terriers midfielder is still on the ground, holding his neck. He's receiving treatment and slowly making his way to his feet.
  • 3:34pm
    32 The game resumes and Barnsley win a throw as the free kick is switched to the visitors' right. Callum Styles takes and the home side get another long throw opportunity - but can't do much with it.
  • 3:35pm
    34 Matty James' corner is acrobatically cleared by Fraizer Campbell as Alex Mowatt hits a low strike towards goal.
  • 3:37pm
    36 Harry Toffolo collects a long pass over the top on Huddersfield's left, but as he plays it into the box Michal Helik is there to clear the ball into the East Stand.
  • 3:39pm
    38 Mads Andersen, high up the pitch, tries a cute lofted ball into the box but it evades everyone and the visitors clear.
  • 3:41pm
    39 Lewis O'Brien advances into the box and plays it across goal, but Michal Helik stretches to knock it out for a corner. Juninho Bacuna receives it on the edge of the box and takes a crack, but it's well over the bar.
  • 3:42pm
    41 Dominik Frieser is played down the left by Michal Helik with a good through pass, and the forward wins a corner.
  • 3:43pm
    42 Callum Styles swings it in but it's cleared by Naby Sarr. Throw in for the Reds.
  • 3:45pm
    43 Michal Helik is fouled by Fraizer Campbell after decent play from Mads Andersen and Alex Mowatt to keep the ball in midfield.
  • 3:46pm
    44 Cauley Woodrow is played into the box on the right of goal and his powerful effort is blocked by Rarmani Edmonds-Green for a corner. The ball in sails over everyone's heads.
  • 3:46pm
    ADDED TIME
    3 minutes added time
  • 3:48pm
    45+1 Callum Styles does really well to keep the ball, dodging a sliding challenge, but the wing-back plays a poor ball as he cuts infield looking for Cauley Woodrow.
  • 3:49pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1, Huddersfield Town 1.
  • 4:08pm
    The Reds get the second half underway. Cauley Woodrow interestingly punts the ball straight out for a throw, presumably to try pressure the away side.
  • 4:09pm
    47 A corner from the visitors is repelled by Barnsley, Dominik Frieser getting it clear.
  • 4:10pm
    48 A free kick from Naby Sarr just inside Barnsley's half is collected by Juninho Bacuna, who had run clear of the defence. The midfielder lofted a good ball across goal but somehow no one got a head to it.
  • 4:14pm
    52 Conor Chaplin wins a free kick on the right wing. Matty James swings it into the box, but it's overhit and lands on top of Ryan Schofield's goal.
  • 4:16pm
    53 Good combination on the visitors' left sees Fraizer Campbell release Lewis O'Brien, but the winger is stopped and the ball cleared.
  • 4:17pm
    54 Another good move from Huddersfield breaks down as Harry Toffolo and Fraizer Campbell run into one another in the box somewhat calamitously.
  • 4:22pm
    59 The game has took on a slower pace in the last few minutes, in part due to the wind which has picked up and is affecting the ball when it's in the air.
  • 4:22pm
    SUB OFF
    60 Dominik Frieser
  • 4:22pm
    SUB ON
    60 Victor Adeboyejo
  • 4:23pm
    61 Cauley Woodrow has time to wind up a long range strike, but it's straight at the 'keeper who palms it away. He was played through by Matty James.
  • 4:25pm
    62 Michal Helik is beaten by Isaac Mbenza on the left, who can get the ball in to Carel Eiting. He fluffs the strike and the Reds take a few attempts to get the ball clear.
  • 4:30pm
    67 Conor Chaplin gets the run on the defence as he picks up on a headed clearance, but the forward hesitates and lets Naby Sarr catch up with him. Chaplin goes down looking for the free kick, but doesn't get it.
  • 4:31pm
    69 Mads Andersen nods on a Matty James free kick from a central position, but the centre-back can't find a team mate.
  • 4:33pm
    SUB OFF
    71 Carel Eiting
  • 4:33pm
    SUB ON
    71 Alex Pritchard
  • 4:36pm
    73 Victor Adeboyejo attempts an acrobatic overhead kick from close range, but he and Conor Chaplin both go for the ball and the latter directs it goalward. It's comfortable for Ryan Schofield.
  • 4:36pm
    SUB OFF
    73 Matty James and Conor Chaplin
  • 4:36pm
    SUB ON
    73 Herbie Kane and Luke Thomas
  • 4:39pm
    76 Corner for Huddersfield but the visitors do little with it and it's out for a goal kick.
  • 4:43pm
    80 Ten minutes left and little sign of either side making a late breakthrough in a pretty disjointed half of football.
  • 4:43pm
    SUB OFF
    81 Isaac Mbenza
  • 4:43pm
    SUB ON
    81 Adama Diakhaby
  • 4:47pm
    84 Huddersfield look to spring a counter with the numerical advantage on the right side, but Mads Andersen stops it with a superb block.
  • 4:49pm
    SUB OFF
    87 Cauley Woodrow and Alex Mowatt
  • 4:49pm
    SUB ON
    87 George Miller and Romal Palmer
  • 4:52pm
    90 Long throw from the left by Herbie Kane is cleared and the visitors win a throw from the same position.
  • 4:53pm
    ADDED TIME
    3 minutes added time
  • 4:56pm
    GOAL!
    90+3 Michal Helik!
  • 4:58pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley nick it at the end. Michal Helik scored from close range after a long throw was knocked on.

READ MORE: Wath C of E win derby final