TEN-MAN Barnsley extended their winning run to six matches after a hard-fought 2-0 triumph away at Accrington Stanley.
The Reds, who returned to league action following wins against Everton and Bradford in the Checkatrade Trophy and last weekend’s 4-0 demolition of Notts County in the FA Cup, faced John Coleman’s in-form side and were backed by more than 2,300 travelling fans who made up almost half of the 4,801 inside the Wham Stadium.
However, despite Cauley Woodrow’s well-taken finish in the 35th minute, it was Accrington who came out of the blocks the quickest, going close through ex-Red Jordan Clark with just five minutes on the clock.
Barnsley goalkeeper Jordan Smith, an emergency loan signing made by Daniel Stendel on Thursday, was on hand to prevent the Hoyland man from scoring.
Smith, a 23-year-old shot-stopper whose parent club Nottingham Forest allowed him to join the Reds on a week-long loan, was quick to react again just minutes later, this time denying Sean McConville’s looping effort.
The tempo reduced somewhat in an otherwise lacklustre first half, which sparked into life for Barnsley when Kieffer Moore’s clever back-heeled pass found Woodrow - making his first league start for the Reds - who made no mistake to slot home past Connor Ripley.
The home side were given a big chance after the hour mark when referee John Busby sent Zeki Fryers off for a challenge on Callum Johnson, with Clark again going close soon after as Accrington searched for an equaliser.
Stendel then brought off goalscorer Woodrow for Dani Pinillos in a clear defensive-minded change, although the Reds continued to push forward despite their numerical disadvantage.
Smith was Barnsley's stand-out performer and made three crucial saves in the win, which leaves Barnsley firmly in the promotion mix, although central midfielder Cameron McGeehan controlled the game with innumerable Kenny Dougall-like passes which always found his teammates.
Having gone down to ten men, it was Barnsley who weathered the storm and ensured the three points when Kieffer Moore doubled the Reds' advantage in injury time.
The win is Barnsley’s tenth of the League One season and means they have won more league games in their first 17 this season than in the whole of the 46-game Championship campaign last season which saw them relegated.
It is their longest winning run since the 2015/16 promotion-winning campaign.
