An early strike from Josh Windass was cancelled out by Cauley Woodrow, who picked up on a mistake by Sheffield Wednesday's goalkeeper to score into an open net from almost 40 yards.

Luke Thomas had half a chance on the 4^th minute, seizing on a loose ball won by Elliot Simoes from a corner and taking a shot from the edge of the box which hit the defender’s legs.

The Reds had a couple of half-chances from there, a quick free kick by Alex Mowatt collected by Cameron Dawson before it could reach Jacob Brown and then some good passing from Thomas and Conor Chaplin breaking down before it could reach the penalty area.

Windass then fired past Brad Collins at his near post on 16 minutes for his first Wednesday goal.

The midfielder picked up the ball inside the box after Thomas’ challenge on Alessio Da Cruz rebounded off of Mads Andersen’s feet and saw him with time to find the bottom right of the goal.

Barnsley pressed after the goal and forced some wayward clearances out of Dawson, one of which saw the home side get themselves back into the contest.Dawson attempted to play the ball out from the left of his goal but misjudged it horribly, passing it straight to Woodrow who, from almost 40 yards, found the open net with his right-footed drive.

A free kick on the 34-minute mark after Joey Pelupessy fouled Thomas saw Clarke Oduor play the ball into the box from the centre circle, Conor Chaplin chesting it before swivelling to drive towards goal.

Dawson, now sporting a cap due to the low winter sun, collected it fairly comfortably.

Four minutes later, a corner – won by some fine work on the right by Jordan Williams to collect a Woodrow through pass – fell to Thomas on the edge of the box, but the midfielder hesitated and the ball broke to Brown, who swung a wild boot at it to send it past the far post.

Brown then forced a good save by Dawson on the 41-minute mark after getting a bit of luck to dribble into the box from the right and fire the ball at the keeper’s feet.After the break, the Reds threatened with a few crosses which didn’t lead to shots on goal, first from Chaplin who could only find Dawson in the 54^th minute and then Woodrow in the 66^th, who hit his ball over the head of Chaplin.

The visitors had a more direct threat, Forestieri – who was quiet in the first half – finding Da Cruz on the far post after some good footwork to beat Williams, who side-footed his effort wide of the post.

Da Cruz then received the ball in a similar position the right side, and crossed for Wickham – the forward finding some space in the box but heading over the bar.

Simoes then produced some good footwork in the box to ride a couple of challenges, before the ball broke out to Williams on the right who crossed for the young midfielder. But he couldn’t get a clean contact on his strike.

Second half substitute Callum Styles looked bright when he came on for Luke Thomas, and he produced a fine left-footed strike after a lay-off from Woodrow on the edge of the box. Dawson collected fairly comfortably.

The Reds then battered the Wednesday defence with crosses, Jordan Williams first getting a chance to strike from a tight angle on the right and then cross for Woodrow, but the forward was called offside.

Styles then collected a punch from Dawson and, as the keeper advanced to clear the ball, was wrong-footed by some clever dribbling. The midfielder couldn’t get a shot off, though.

In the 85^th minute, there were a number of penalty shouts as Styles was barged to the ground on the edge of the box, but the referee – who had been busy throughout – waved away the protests.

Jacob Murphy dribbled into the Reds' box a minute later, but was stopped by some good defending from Oduor and Williams could clear into the East Stand.