Barnsley are six points clear inside the Championship's top six after a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Wednesday evening .
Substitute Daryl Dike scored an overhead kick midway through the second half to secure victory in a game his side totally dominated, creating a host of chances while the hosts had just one.
Seventh-placed Reading could only draw at Luton Town so are six points behind the Reds with three games remaining.
Valerien Ismael made three changes from the team that lost at Coventry City on Sunday, with Carlton Morris, Dominik Frieser and Michael Sollbauer coming in for Daryl Dike, Conor Chaplin and Toby Sibbick.
The Reds were on top in the first half, missing three clear-cut chances and having several other half-opportunities while Huddersfield did not create anything of note and looked rattled by their visitors' pressing.
Barnsley should have had a penalty in the first minute when Rarmani Edmonds-Green headed the ball against his own hand from a cross by Callum Brittain after a clever backheel by Morris. If he had not punched it into the air, three Barnsley players were nearby and could have reached it as it dropped in the six-yard box.
Cauley Woodrow could have opened the scoring in the sixth minute when everyone stopped as he looked to be offside from a ball over the top but the assistant did not raise his flag and Barnsley's top-scorer fired wide from the a tight angle on the right of the six-yard box.
Frieser should have scored in the 24th minute but, eight yards out in the centre of the box, he toe-poked a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper after a good work by Woodrow to beat a man on the right of the box and find his team-mate.
Woodrow then shot straight at the goalkeeper Ryan Schofield from outside the box before Alex Mowatt's low free-kick went just wide of the bottom left corner. Woodrow then sent an overhead kick well wide after Michal Helik headed on a Frieser throw-in.
Mowatt missed another fine chance in first half injury-tine as he fired over from 15 yards out after very good work on the left of the box by Morris who pulled the ball back perfectly.
Dike came on for the injured Frieser just before the break the the Reds started the second half extremely well with a host of early chances.
After Woodrow saw a shot deflected just wide of the top right corner, Mowatt's resulting corner bounced twice on the crossbar before the referee saw a foul then Styles' cross was headed by Morris but Schofield scrambled it out of his bottom right corner.
The breakthrough came on 65 minutes when Huddersfield looked to counter-attack but Brittain made an excellent sliding tackle then Styles and Mowatt worked the ball to Morris whose deflected cross from the left of the area bounced in the six-yard box and Dike sent an overhead kick into the net.
It was almost 2-0 when Brittain ran onto a lofted Mowatt pass on the right of the box and shrugged off Duane Holmes then crossed low but Morris could not quite touch it in. Mads Andersen then beat Schofield to a Mowatt free-kick and Morris' looping header was nodded off the line by Naby Sarr then the follow-up cross by Sollbauer was volleyed by Helik onto the underside of the bar from close range.
Huddersfield had their first chance in the 80th minute when a low cross from the right was sliced by the otherwise-excellent Sollbauer to Lewis O'Brien whose 15-yard shot was powerful but straight at Brad Collins who held it easily.
Sarr again headed off the line in the 84th minute after Woodrow headed a Mowatt corner then Sollbauer's header was deflected just wide.
Dike was then put clean through by a poor back pass by Jonathan Hogg but was denied one-on-one by the goalkeeper.
Huddersfield (3-5-2): Schofield; Edmonds-Green (Thomas 67mins), Keogh, Sarr; Rowe (High 58), Hogg, Bacuna (Eiting 77), O'Brien, Holmes (Aarons 77); Koroma (Ward 67), Sanogo. Subs: Pereira, Stearman, Dunahey, Brown. Yellow cards: Hogg.
Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt, Palmer (Williams 78mins), Styles; Woodrow, Morris, Frieser (Dike 45+1). Subs: Walton, Halme, Sibbick, Oduor, Chaplin, Adeboyejo, Moon. Yellow cards: Andersen, Morris. Goals: Dike 65.
AS IT HAPPENED
  • 6:28pm
    Good evening and welcome to the Chronicle's live text coverage of Barnsley's game at Huddersfield Town from 7.45pm tonight.
  • 6:28pm
    Team news is due at 6.45pm. Liam Kitching, Herbie Kane and Ben Williams are all still out following injuries.
  • 6:46pm
    Barnsley (3-4-3): Collins; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt, Palmer, Styles; Woodrow, Morris, Frieser. Subs: Walton, Halme, Sbbick, Oduor, J Williams, Dike, Chaplin, Adeboyejo, Moon.
  • 6:46pm
    Valerien Ismael has made three changes from the team that lost at Coventry City on Sunday, with Carlton Morris, Dominik Frieser and Michael Sollbauer coming in for Daryl Dike, Conor Chaplin and Toby Sibbick.
  • 6:55pm
    Huddersfield: Schofield; Edmonds-Green, Keogh, Sarr; Hogg, Bacuna, Holmes, O'Brien, Rowe; Koroma, Sanogo. Subs: Pereira, Stearman, Eiting, Aarons, Dunahey, Thomas, Ward, Brown, High.
  • 6:59pm
    Barnsley are sixth in the table, four points clear in the top six after Sunday's 2-0 loss at Coventry City.
  • 7:04pm
    The Sky Blues took the lead in the ninth minute then doubled it in injury-time against a Reds side who dropped below their usual standards.
  • 7:07pm
    Huddersfield are 20th, eight points clear of the relegation zone but third-bottom Rotherham United have two games in hand.
  • 7:09pm
    The Terriers were six points off the play-offs at the turn of the year but have the Championship's worst record in 2021, despite winning 2-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday to ease some fears of relegation.
  • 7:15pm
    They suffered a humiliating 7-0 thrashing at leaders Norwich City last week – ending a five-game unbeaten run – then drew 0-0 at home to Rotherham on Saturday before losing 2-1 at home to Barnsley's fellow promotion-challengers Bournemouth on Tuesday – ending a five-game unbeaten home run.
  • 7:17pm
    They then won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday to move further clear of the bottom three.
  • 7:21pm
    Huddersfield have conceded the second-most goals in the division this season with 62.
  • 7:21pm
    Carlos Corberan's team usually passes out from the back and tries to keep possession but most of Barnsley's recent opponents have abandoned their normal style to play long balls.
  • 7:25pm
    Ismael said: "Huddersfield is a tough side like all the teams. They are almost safe. I think they created a big gap between them and Rotherham. They are a possession-based team who always try to create a lot of chances from the back. We saw in the first game (a 2-1 win for the Reds on Boxing Day) that it was difficult for us."
  • 7:26pm
    Ismael added: "In the last few weeks we have changed our approach and prepared the guys for two or three gameplans in case the opponents changes their way to play. We are not surprised if they do that now.But it is all about our performance."
  • 7:27pm
    Barnsley will look to complete the double over their local rivals, having won 2-1 at home on Boxing Day thanks to a double from centre-back Michal Helik including an injury-time winner.
  • 7:33pm
    The Reds have lost on their last three trips to the John Smith's Stadium, by 2-1 scorelines last season – under caretaker Adam Murray – and in 2016 after a 5-0 thrashing in 2013.
  • 7:33pm
    Their last victory there was in 2006 in the second leg of the League One play-off semi-final.
  • 7:36pm
    Scott High, who is from Barnsley, has been a regular off the bench for the Terriers since a loan to Shrewsbury Town in the first half of the season while Reds defender Jordan Williams is from Huddersfield and began his career with Town.
  • 7:37pm
    Ismael said: "The guys need to be more on fire and more ready, not to wait for the opponent to score or have chances. The two first halves in the last two games were very sloppy and slippy. We have to get back to our strengths of what Barnsley is from the first minute and play with intensity. It is not enough to play for 45 minutes."
  • 7:45pm
    The Reds boss added: "It is a young team and sometimes that happens. Sometimes you think wins will fall from the sky and you can get results without making the next steps in your performance. In the Championship, all the opponents are difficult."
  • 7:47pm
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 7:48pm
    1 Bright start by the Reds. Morris back heels to Brittain whose cross from the right looks to be punches by Rarmani Edmonds-Green
  • 7:50pm
    That looked a clear penalty to me for handball but not given
  • 7:51pm
    4 Huddersfield free-kick on the right by Bacuna is headed away
  • 7:52pm
    6 Bacuna corner on the left. Played back to Lewis O'Brien whose cross is met by Sanogo who heads well wide
  • 7:53pm
    6 Big chance for Cauley Woodrow to open the scoring. He looks certain to be called offside so everyone stops but the flag never goes up and he is free in the box on the right, checks past a defender and shoots wide from the right edge of the six-yard box
  • 7:58pm
    11 minutes in and Barnsley have certainly delivered the bright start their boss wanted, but they have been denied a penalty then Woodrow missed a good chance
  • 7:59pm
    So far it is much more of a passing and good-looking football match than many of Barnsley's recent games with neither side really going long
  • 8:02pm
    A quarter of an hour gone. A decent game to watch and Barnsley are just shading it so far
  • 8:06pm
    Jonathan Hogg needs treatment after a clash with Brittain but he is up and back involved
  • 8:07pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Jonathan Hogg takes out Palmer and is booked
  • 8:10pm
    23 Mistake by Helik, he dives in and misses the ball which lets Koroma run through on goal by Sollbauer makes a fine block in the box. Top defending
  • 8:11pm
    24 Chance at the other end now, great feet by Woodrow to beat a man on the right side of the box then he nudges it to Frieser who should score eight yards out but he toe-poked it straight at the goalkeeper
  • 8:12pm
    26 Bacuna corner on the left. Taken short then cross is deflected for another corner
  • 8:13pm
    27 Corner taken short again but Collins catches the cross
  • 8:15pm
    28 After a Frieser throw is cleared, eventually Woodrow shoots from just outside the box but it straight at the goalkeeper
  • 8:17pm
    30 Alex Mowatt's 25-yard free-kick just goes wide of the bottom left corner
  • 8:20pm
    Barnsley have had all the shots so far in this match, with their hosts yet to create a chance
  • 8:21pm
    35 Really good move by the Reds but Frieser's pass to Brittain is behind the wing-back who would have raced into the box if it had been the right service
  • 8:24pm
    38 Frieser's long throw on the left is headed on by Helik then Woodrow tries a spectacular overhead kick but it goes well wide
  • 8:26pm
    Huddersfield's goalkeeper Schofield is down injured and receiving treatment
  • 8:29pm
    Schofield up and back in action
  • 8:29pm
    A shout of 'Yorkshire! Yorkshire!' from behind one of the empty stands here. Sounds like a fan in the carpark. Not quite the same as when thousands of Terriers and Reds supporters were singing it on the pitch in 2013.
  • 8:33pm
    Two added minutes
  • 8:33pm
    Dike replaces the injured Dominik Frieser
  • 8:33pm
    45+1 Big chance for the Reds again, Morris cuts in from the left and pulls it back to Mowatt who blazes over 15 yards out
  • 8:35pm
    HALF-TIME: Huddersfield 0, Barnsley 0. The Reds have been the better side but their finishing has let them down. After what looked a clear penalty after 50 seconds for handball, Woodrow, Frieser and Mowatt have all missed good chances
  • 8:52pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 8:53pm
    47 Bacuna free-kick headed out by Andersen
  • 8:56pm
    50 Nice pass forward by Collins to Mowatt who finds Woodrow whose 20-yard deflected effort goes just wide of the top right corner
  • 8:57pm
    51 Mowatt's right-wing corner bounces twice on the bar then out but the referee gives a foul
  • 8:57pm
    52 A third chance of the half for the Reds as Stylers' left wing cross is flick headed by Morris and Schofield scrambles it behind
  • 8:58pm
    52 Woodrow's corner is caught by Schofield
  • 9:02pm
    Blistering start to the second half by the Reds who are well on top. Can they find the goal?
  • 9:03pm
    Scott High comes on for Aaron Rowe. High is from Barnsley and started at Penistone Church
  • 9:04pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Mads Andersen is the first Reds man in the book after a foul just inside the Huddersfield half
  • 9:05pm
    Usually Ismael would make changes at this point but his team are playing very well so he might wait
  • 9:08pm
    I make it nine chances of various quality for Barnsley in the first hour and none for Huddersfield. As well as a strong Reds penalty shout. Still 0-0 though.
  • 9:10pm
    64 Mowatt corner on the left leads to several headers then a blocked shot by Palmer
  • 9:11pm
    GOAL!
    Daryl Dike with an overhead kick!
  • 9:12pm
    His ninth goal of the season from six yards out after Huddersfield let a Morris deflected cross bounce
  • 9:14pm
    Big credit to Callum Brittain there. Huddersfield were breaking and had could have several players over on the counter but the wing-back made a super sliding tackle and ten seconds later his team had scored.
  • 9:14pm
    Huddersfield bring on Danny Ward for Koroma and Sorba Thomas for Edmonds-Green
  • 9:17pm
    Not much has happened since the goal but the Reds will look to control the game now while breaking as Huddersfield have to push forward
  • 9:20pm
    74 Decent chance for 2-0. Brittain runs onto a chipped Mowatt pass in the box, shoves away a defender Duane Holmes and sends in a low cross which whizzes through the six-yard box and just away from Morris
  • 9:21pm
    75 Huge huge chances for the visitors. Sarr heads Morris' header off the line then Helik heads onto the bar
  • 9:23pm
    Palmer taken off for Jordan Williams, with Styles going to central midfield
  • 9:26pm
    80 Huddersfield's first chance, Sollbauer slices a cross from the right and it goes straight to O'Brien who shoots 15 yards out straight at Collins
  • 9:28pm
    82 Callum Styles shoots just wide of the bottom right corner from 20 yards
  • 9:30pm
    84 Another big chance, Woodrow's header from a Mowatt corner is again headed off the line by Sarr before Sol;bauer's header is deflected wide
  • 9:31pm
    86 Another massive chance. Dike is clean through after a defensive mix-up but is denied one-on-one by Schofield.
  • 9:35pm
    Barnsley are in double figures for chances, they have hit the bar three times and seen two goal line clearances. If they do not win it will be the ultimate smash and grab
  • 9:36pm
    Four added minutes
  • 9:40pm
    FULL-TIME: Huddersfield 0, Barnsley 1. Daryl Dike's overhead kick secures a deserved win for the Reds who dominated the Yorkshire derby

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