Barnsley’s slim chance of automatic promotion, and their nine-game winning run at Oakwell, was ended with a 3-0 defeat to second-placed Ipswich Town.

The visitors netted twice right at the end of the first half then missed a penalty early in the second, before adding another late on.

Barnsley were second-best on the night, struggling to create chances and conceding poor goals.

The Reds remain fourth, nine points off the top two with two games to play.

Michael Duff made three changes from the weekend win over Oxford.

Luca Connell was not in the squad and replaced by full home debutant Jon Russell. Slobodan Tedic dropped to the bench after scoring twice on Saturday, with James Norwood starting against his old club. Nicky Cadden came back for Ziyad Larkeche after suspension.

Barnsley played fairly well for most of the first half but the visitors always looked more dangerous in attack.

Jordan Williams fired over as tough chance in the fourth minute from the right of the box on the volley after Cadden’s cross had been punched by the goalkeeper.

Ipswich were inches from the opener soon after when Massimo Luongo smashed a 20-yard shot against the underside of the crossbar.

Adam Phillips dragged a poor shot wide from 25 yards after fine work by Herbie Kane on the left then Norwood’s weak effort from just outside the box was easily saved. Another Philips effort from 25 yards was caught by the goalkeeper.

Ipswich’s George Hirst should have put them ahead in the 32nd minute when he was played clean through on goal but fired wide of the bottom left corner from the right of the box.

The opening goal arrived on 45 minutes when the unmarked Nathan Broadhead headed a right-wing corner by Leif Davis at the near post into the bottom right corner.

The second goal arrived minutes later when Hirst outmuscled Mads Andersen to reach Davis’ long ball then skipped past Liam Kitching and blasted home from the edge of the box.

Ipswich were awarded a penalty early in the second half when Andersen was judged to have tripped Wes Burns. But Harry Isted sprang to his right to make a fine save from Broadhead’s spot-kick.

Substitute Tedic headed wide about eight yards out leaning back from a Williams cross after he swapped passes in the box with Luke Thomas following a good move down the left.

Cole then fired over on the turn 12 yards out after collecting a low left-wing cross.

The third goal saw Isted run off his line to deny Hirst who had got behind the defence again but ex-Red Conor Chaplin lobbed the ball into the empty net.

Substitute Max Watters almost pulled one back when he brought a pass down on the left of the box but Christian Walton saved well.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams (Cotter 82mins), Phillips (L Thomas 67mins), Russell (Benson 60mins), Kane, Cadden; Norwood (Tedic 60), Cole (Watters 82).

Unused: Collins, Larkeche.

Yellow cards: Russell.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Walton; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis (Leigh 76mins); Morsy, Luongo (Ball 83); Broadhead (Harness 83), Chaplin, Burns (Jackson 83); Hirst (Ladapo 83).

Unused: Hladky, Ball, Edwards.,

Yellow cards: Hirst, Morsy.

Goals: Broadhead 45, Hirst 45+2, Chaplin 81.