Barnsley increased the gap between them and the side outside League One’s top six with a 2-1 win at Oxford United on Wednesday night.

Bobby Thomas got his first goal for the Reds then Nicky Cadden also opened his account for 2-0.

The hosts pulled one back and missed a series of chances as the Reds hung on for a narrow win.

Barnsley are now five points clear in the play-off places.

Devante Cole came in for the departed Jack Aitchison. New signings Oli Shaw and Harry Isted were on the bench, as was young centre-back Rudi Pache who signed a new deal today.

Oxford missed a big chance in the third minute when Billy Bodin was played clean through but fired wide of the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later Barnsley came very close as, after a surging run by Liam Kitching, he played James Norwood clean through and the shot was cleared off the line by Cameron Brannagan.

Thomas then met Luca Connell’s left-wing corner but his header looped to the goalkeeper Simon Eastwood.

Brannagan, Oxford’s star man, came off with an injury midway through the first half then the hosts had a spell of pressure but could not break down the visiting defence despite a series of corners.

Barnsley netted against the run of play with a fine goal. Adam Phillips’ excellent cross from the right was met by Thomas who appeared to loop a header inside the left post. There were claims of an own goal by Elliott Moore.

The hosts almost levelled minutes later when Kyle Joseph cut in from the right then blazed a shot across goal and wide from about 12 yards out. The same player fired well over from a similar distance after Yanic Wildschut ran down the left and cut a powerful ball back to him.

Cole almost made it two but was just beaten to a throughball by the home goalkeeper, then Connell flashed a powerful shot across goal from the left of the box.

Phillips flicked a Kitching cross wide at the near post early in the second half.

The second goal arrived just before the hour-mark. Cole sprinted down the right wing then, after his cross was blocked, passed to Kane who moved it onto the unmarked Cadden who impressively found the bottom right corner from about 12 yards out.

Norwood was very close to making it 3-0 minutes later but denied by Eastwood’s outstretched left leg when through one-on-one.

Home substitute Tyler Smith should have pulled one back when a ball over the top put him one-on-one with Collins but he made a mess of an attempted lob and the goalkeeper easily caught.

Oxford eventually pulled one back with 20 minutes left when Moore headed home a left-wing corner.

Barnsley were then put under a lot of pressure and their crossbar was rattled by Ciaran Brown after another left-wing corner caused problems.

Oxford’s Lewis Bate blasted over ten yards out on the right of the box after a left-wing cross fell to him.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane, Connell, Phillips, Cadden; Cole (Watters 72mins), Norwood (Martin 89).

Unused: Isted, Shaw, Pache, Oduor, Larkeche.

Yellow cards: Kane, Andersen, Collins.

Goals: Thomas 32, Cadden 59.

Oxford (4-3-3): Eastwood; Long, Moore, Brown, Anderson (Goodrham. 64mins), Brannagan (McGuane 23), Bate (O’Donkor 85), Bodin, Konate (Smith 64), Joseph, Wildschut.

Unused: McGinty, Fleming, Findlay.

Goals: Moore 70.