Reds hit four past Owls in derby win

Barnsley recovered from losing a 2-0 lead to beat local rivals Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 and further boost their top two chances on an extraordinary night at Oakwell.

Devante Cole and James Norwood netted in the tenth and 12th minutes as the Reds got off to a superb start.

The Owls pulled one back before the break then levelled with 15 minutes left before Max Watters got the crucial goal then Liam Kitching completed the win in injury-time.

The Reds remain fourth, six points behind Wednesday who slipped off top to second and eight behind leaders Plymouth who have played two extra games.

Barnsley have won their last six home games and are unbeaten in 12 with ten wins, while they have collected 51 points from 21 games.

Cole came in for Watters in the only change from the weekend. Robbie Cundy was back on the bench for Jon Russell who is on international duty.

Cole opened the scoring in the tenth minute, providing a good one-on-one finish from the left of the box after Mads Andersen surged forward, swapped passes with Nicky Cadden and played the striker in.

It was 2-0 two minutes later when, after Luca Connell brilliantly robbed a defender, Norwood superbly found the bottom right corner from almost 25 yards to spark jubilant scenes around most of Oakwell.

Wednesday looked rattled at first but grew into the game and began to create a series of headed chances from left-wing crosses.

Dominic Iorfa could have pulled one back on 31 minutes but headed over a left-wing free-kick by Barry Bannan.

Three minutes later it was 2-1 when ex-Red Michael Smith was released down the right by a long ball and crossed low for Lee Gregory to tap in from close range.

Adam Phillips’ right-wing cross was headed by Norwood but goalkeeper Cameron Dawson dived to his left to save.

Aden Flint almost made it 2-2 but he headed over from close-range after meeting Marvin Johnson’s left-wing cross.

Harry Isted then had to produce an astonishing save to deny Smith, leaping to his right to somehow keep out a header.

In the second half, Isted caught a powerful Smith shot from a tight angle on the right of the box then Cole saw a tame 18-yard effort easily saved.

Norwood almost made it 3-1 sliding in from close range to meet Jordan Williams’ cross after a good Phillips pass. Bobby Thomas then turned a Connell free-kick over when unmarked.

Akin Famewo headed down a Bannan corner but Isted caught easily.

The equaliser arrived with 15 minutes left when Bannan’s crossfield ball was volleyed on the left of the box by Johnson and tapped in again by Gregory.

Flint then volleyed over a left-wing Bannan cross on 82 minutes.

Watters netted when a left-wing cross deflected for him and he took a cool touch before firing high into from about 12 yards out.

Kitching secured the win after being played clean through by Luke Thomas following good work by Josh Benson and Slobodan Tedic.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Phillips ( L Thomas 65), Connell, Kane (Benson 79), Cadden. (Cundy 87); Norwood (Tedic. 65), Cole (Watters 79).

Unused: Collins, Cundy, Larkeche.

Yellow cards: Phillips, Williams, Andersen.

Goals: Cole 10, Norwood 12, Watters 84, Kitching 90+6.

Wednesday (3-5-2): Dawson, Palmer, Iorfa, Flint, Famewo, Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan, Adeniran (Dele-Bashiru 66) Gregory, Smith

Unused: Stockdale, Hunt, James, Brown, Bakinson, Shipston,.

Yellow cards: Smith.

Goals: Gregory 34, 75.