The Reds, delivering one of their best displays of the season, surged into a 3-0 lead inside 28 minutes with goals by Cauley Woodrow, Jacob Brown and Alex Mowatt. They created a host of further chances but were kept out by an inspired display by their former goalkeeper Kyle Letheran. 

Portsmouth’s lunchtime win at Coventry City saw the Reds slip down to third but they returned to second with their victory. They are now two points ahead of third-placed Portsmouth and four ahead of fourth-placed Sunderland, with both those sides having a game in hand on Barnsley. Sunderland conceded an injury-time leveller in a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United. 

Daniel Stendel made one change from the side that beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at home three days earlier, with centre-back Liam Lindsay returning from injury to replace Adam Jackson. 

The Reds soaked up some pressure early on but all the hosts had to show for it was a long-range Graham Carey shot very easily saved by Adam Davies. 

Barnsley took the lead after 15 minutes when Jordan Williams’ magnificent 40-yard pass split the defence and played Woodrow through on goal to chest the ball down and fire into the bottom right corner from ten yards out for his 18th of the season.

The second came when Dani Pinillos’ cross from the left was met at the back post by Brown who fired into the bottom right corner from seven yards out. 

The third was an excellent free-kick by Mowatt into the top right corner from 25 yards as he joined Brown on eight goals for the season. 

Letheren kept the score down by flinging himself a full-length to keep out low, long-range efforts by Woodrow and Pinillos.  Barnsley went in at half-time having played sensational football, dominating their hosts with superb attacking play as well as constant pressing and harrying in midfield which allowed them to dominate for long spells. They were also well on top after the break as they cantered to victory. 

Davies caught a looping header from Lloyd Jones early in the second half then Letheren easily kept out a long-range Mamadou Thiam effort. 

Davies’ throw then began a swift counter-attack which saw Mike Bahre and Woodrow work the ball up the pitch before Thiam cut in from the left and had a shot from the edge of the box which was clawed out of the top right corner by Letheren. 

Plymouth had their only real chance on 65 minutes when Ruben Lameiras’ clever pass from the right wing put Yann Songo’o clean through on goal but Davies rushed off his line to make an excellent one-on-one block. 

Letheren then made another outstanding save, diving low to his left to repel Bahre’s shot from the edge of the box following another impressive breakaway move which saw the visitors pass their way up the pitch.

Substitute Callum Styles then won the ball in the hosts' box and pulled it back for fellow replacement Keiffer Moore who fired his low effort wide from 15 yards out. Another rapid break saw Williams find Cameron McGeehan in the area but his low shot produced yet another excellent save from Letheren who threw himself to his right to tip it away. Styles played Moore clean through for another chance but he blazed over on the right of the box in injury-time.

The joy of the 950 away fans was increased after the final whistle in Devon when news came through that Matt Godden had levelled for Peterborough against Sunderland to cap a perfect day for the Reds. 

Barnsley (4-4-1-1): Davies; J Williams, Pinnock, Lindsay, Pinillos; Brown, McGeehan, Mowatt; Thiam (Moore 69mins); Bahre; Woodrow (Styles 79).  Subs: Walton, Fryers, Green, Jackson.  Goals: Woodrow 15, Brown 21, Mowatt 28.  Plymouth (4-2-3-1): Letheren; Threlkeld, Edwards, Jones, Sawyer; Songo’o, Fox (Ness 80mins); Sarcevic, Lameiras (Anderson 80), Carey; Taylor (Fletcher 80). Subs: Macey, Canavan, Ainsworth, Smith-Brown.