Cole double secures 5th straight win

Devante Cole bagged a brace as Barnsley registered a fifth straight league win with a 2-0 home victory over Burton Albion on Saturday.

Cole opened the scoring before the break then added another midway through the second half, taking his tally to eight this season.

The game was far from a classic but Reds were in control throughout against their relegation-threatened visitors.

Barnsley now have the most points after 20 games in a league season since 1980/81.

They are fourth with 36 points, four clear of the sides outside the top six and nine off the top two.

Michael Duff made three changes from the last game at Peterborough 15 days earlier. Tom Edwards and Adam Phillips dropped out of the squad with illness, with Matty Wolfe starting on his return from a three-month injury break and Robbie Cundy also starting. James Norwood came in for Jack Aitchison. Joe Ackroyd had been recalled from loan to Guiseley for cover in midfield and was on the bench.

After a quiet first 15 minutes, Jordan Williams fired high and wide from a tough chance at the back post after excellent work from Norwood who won a header then sent in a fine cross.

Two minutes later the Reds broke from a Burton long throw with Norwood impressively touching the ball to Wolfe who sprinted about 40 yards then played in Herbie Kane on the left of the box but his weak shot was saved.

Kane also shot well wide from distance then Nicky Cadden blazed over on the left of the box 15 yards out.

At the other end, Burton appealed for a penalty for an alleged foul on former Barnsley striker Victor Adeboyejo who turned Cundy and fell to the floor.

The Reds took the lead in the 36th minute through a fine team goal. Liam Kitching’s excellent crossfield pass from the left was controlled by Williams on the right of the box and he cleverly passed to the onrushing Wolfe who crossed low for Cole to flick in.

Connell tried to make it 2-0 from almost 30 yards but his powerful strike went just wide of the top right corner.

After very little happened for 20 minutes after the break, Burton defender Corrie Ndaba’s shot went well over from outside the box. Seconds later, Brad Collins had to make his first save of the game, springing to his left to easily keep out a header by Sam Hughes after a scramble in the box.

It was 2-0 on 74 minutes when Cadden brilliantly beat a man on the left of the box and sent in a low cross which Cole tapped in almost on the line.

Kane almost scored an own goal but his clearance just missed the bottom left corner then another Hughes header brought another simple save out of Collins.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Wolfe (Aitchison 58mins), Connell, Kane, Cadden; Norwood (Jalo 75), Cole (Martin 89).

Unused: Walton, Moon, Ackroyd, Larkeche.

Yellow cards: Connell.

Goals: Cole 36, 74.

Burton (4-5-1): Garratt; Brayford, Hughes, Ndaba (Borthwick-Jackson 76mins), Hamer; Kamwa (Smith HT), Taylor, Oshilaja, Onyango (Carayol 76), Dodoo; Adeboyejo. Unused: Sinisalo, Butcher, Mariappa, Keillor-Dunn

Yellow cards: Taylor.