A depleted Barnsley side ground out a vital 1-0 win at fellow promotion-challengers Oxford United on Tuesday night.

The Reds led at the break through an own goal then produced a performance of real character during a second half in which Adam Phillips and Herbie Kane were forced off through apparent injuries.

The Reds are now unbeaten in 11 and three points off the top two, six points clear in the top six.

Luca Connell, who was ill, and Callum Styles, who is thought to be close to a move away from the club, dropped out of the 11 with Jon Russell and Nicky Cadden coming in. Youngsters Aaron Atkinson and Jonathan Bland were on the bench for the first time in a league game.

Oxford had the first chance in the 14th minute when, after Corey O’Keeffe lost the ball and Mael de Gevigney slipped in the wet conditions, Mark Harris played in Finn Stevens who scuffed wide from the edge of the box.

Nicky Cadden’s cross then thudded against the crossbar before, at the other end, Jordan Williams’ poor backpass put Marcus McGuane clean through and he lobbed Liam Roberts but it lacked power and Jack Shepherd cleared easily.

The home goalkeeper then passed straight to Devante Cole who shot over from just outside the box before John McAtee turned a wicked Cadden cross just wide from close range.

The breakthrough arrived on 29 minutes when, after a corner was cleared, Adam Phillips’ fine right-wing cross was headed into the bottom right corner by defender Sam Long under pressure from Cole.

A fine move in first half injury-time saw O’Keeffe swap passes with Phillips then cross to the back post where Cadden was in space but made a mess of the shot which was shanked well wide.

Oxford’s Mark Harris then fired over from 12 yards out from a left wing cross before half-time. Russell blazed a shot over from 15 yards after a Cadden cross was only half-cleared.

Phillips came off at half-time with Sam Cosgrove replacing him and McAtee dropping into attacking midfield.

Harris should have levelled at the start of the second half after Shepherd’s poor header put him clean through but Roberts made a fine one-on-one save.

Herbie Kane came off midway through the second half with Barry Cotter replacing him and O’Keeffe playing in midfield.

Cotter had a shot from the right of the box easily saved then, at the other end, Cameron Brannagan rattled the crossbar from 25 yards on 85 minutes.

Cadden shot just wide of the bottom right corner after a fine run into the box then Brannagan’s low injury-time free-kick was straight at Roberts.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, Shepherd; O’Keeffe, Phillips (Cosgrove HT), Russell, Kane (Cotter 68), Cadden; McAtee, Cole (Watters 74).

Unused: Killip, Lopata, Atkinson, Bland.

Yellow cards: De Gevigney.

Goals: Long OG 29.

Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Long (Smyth 35mins), Brown, Moore; Stevens (Burey 61), Brannagan, , McGuane (McEachran 78), Bennett (Leigh 45+3),; Goodrham, Rodrigues; Harris.

Yellow cards: Rodrigues.

Unused: Eastwood, Thorniley, Henry.