Barnsley made it seven points from a week with a 2-0 win at lowly Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

Jon Russell opened the scoring just before half-time then Max Watters netted two minutes after the break.

The Reds were on top for the majority of the game against one of the division’s strugglers, and could have won by more.

They are now seventh in the table with 22 points from 13 games.

Darrell Clarke made three changes from the midweek draw with Charlton. Goalkeeper Ben Killip came in for Gaga Slonina who was on the bench, Donovan Pines replaced the suspended Josh Earl and Max Watters came in for Vimal Yoganathan who was not in the squad. Captain Luca Connell recovered from his midweek injury but Adam Phillips was still out injured.

Barnsley played a 3-4-3 with Pines in the middle of the defence and Marc Roberts on the left. They played three up front with Davis Keillor-Dunn on the left, Watters in the middle and Stephen Humphrys on the right.

Watters should have opened the scoring in the ninth minute when played clean through by Connell but, although he knocked the ball past the goalkeeper, a defender got back to clear it easily.

Barnsley then had a goal ruled out on 20 minutes when Watters appeared to turn in a Georgie Gent cross was the linesman put his flag up, apparently for offside.

Humphrys shot wide from the edge of the box then hit the side netting from an extremely tight angle on the right.

After a strong first quarter of the game for the Reds, it then became a very dull, scrappy battle until the opener just before the interval. After Corey O’Keeffe’s corner was cleared, Connell lofted the ball back into the box for Russell to blast a volley into the top right corner.

Shrewsbury, who had been very poor in the first half, had their first shot on target just before the break when Tom Bloxham’s long-range effort was pushed wide by Killip.

Watters doubled the lead two minutes into the second half. He raced onto an O’Keeffe pass on the right, beat a defender and finished into the bottom left corner.

Watters could have scored another minutes later when he was played clean through by Connell but was denied one-on-one by the goalkeeper.

Barnsley coasted through the remainder of the game, with Shrewsbury having a few shots blocked or sent well off target.

Kelechi Nwakali made his league debut in injury-time.

Keillor-Dunn could have added a third but was denied one-on-one by Toby Savin.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Killip; de Gevigney, Pines, Roberts; O’Keeffe, Russell, Connell (Nwakali 90+1), Gent (Cotter 64mins); Keillor-Dunn; Humphrys (Jalo 81), Watters (Craig 64).

Unused: Slonina, Lofthouse, McCarthy,.

Yellow cards: Pines.

Goals: Russell 45+3, Watters 47.

Shrewsbury (3-5-2): Savin; M Feeney, Nsiala, Pierre (J Feeney 36mins); Gilliead Ojo, Rossiter (Marquis 60) Perry (Castledine 60), Nurse; Bloxham, Lloyd.

• 1
• GAME UNDERWAY
• 3:03pm
  Pines in the middle of back three with Roberts on left. Looks like front three- left to right: DKD, Watters, Humprhys
• 3:05pm
  4 O'Keeffe bursts into the box on the right after George Nurse loses the ball but his outmuscled and the ball goes out for a goal kick
• 3:08pm
  Not much going on but Barnsley have had a lot of the ball in the last few minutes
• 3:08pm
  Now Gent wins the first corner of the game on the left
• 3:09pm
  8 Corey O'Keeffe's left-wing corner is very high to the right of the box where Roberts wins a header but the referee sees a foul
• 3:10pm
  9 Big chance for Barnsley. Connell puts Watters clean through and he knocks it past the goalkeeper but a defender gets back to clear
• 3:13pm
  Shrewsbury have had a lot of the ball since that chance but are yet to create one of their own
• 3:14pm
  Gent wins another corner on the left. Killip's good pass found him on the left of the box but a defender cleared for a corner
• 3:14pm
  13 O'Keeffe's left-wing corner is flicked by a defender out for a corner on the right
• 3:15pm
  14 Connell's left-wing corner is is cleared amid cries of a foul
• 3:16pm
  Barnsley have been generally on top in this opening 15 minutes. But Watters has missed the big chance
• 3:16pm
  Now Barnsley win a free-kick on the right wing
• 3:17pm
  16 O'Keeffe free-kick on the right. Cleared behind for a corner on the right
• 3:17pm
  16 Connell's right-wing corner is headed out
• 3:19pm
  Gent probably the player of the game so far. He whips in a cross from the left after beating a man but it's cleared
• 3:19pm
  Another Gent cross after a Roberts throw is cleared amid cries of handball
• 3:20pm
  Barnsley have the ball in the net but it's ruled out
• 3:21pm
  Looks like Watters got the final touch but I think he was given offside. It was from a cross on the left
• 3:21pm
  Now Humphrys shoots wide from distance
• 3:23pm
  Another half chance for Humphrys. He gets the ball on the right of the Shrews box after a mix up in defence but it's a really tight angle and he can only hit the side netting
• 3:27pm
  Humprhys taken out on right. Free-kick 45 yards out with MDG to take
• 3:27pm
  Free-kick headed out then Connell's cross from left is caught
• 3:28pm
  Barnsley having so much of the ball here and Shrewsbury have barely had an attack
• 3:30pm
  It's not the greatest game. With Barnsley just trying to break down a defensive home side
• 3:32pm
  A scrappy last few minutes. Shrewsbury seeing a little bit more of the ball
• 3:34pm
  Decent move from the Reds with Gent laying off a cross field pass to DKD whose low cross is gathered by the goalkeeper
• 3:34pm
  One of the home defenders is injured so both teams come to the side for a little chat
• 3:35pm
  Except Killip, Pines and Roberts who are having a conference in the middle of the pitch
• 3:36pm
  Shrewsbury will make a change but the game continues
• 3:37pm
  Aaron Pierre is coming off for Josh Feeney
• 3:38pm
  The game has gone flat in the last 15 minutes. Barnsley will look for a strong finish to the half
• 3:38pm
  Shrewsbury win a free-kick in a central position 40 yards out
• 3:39pm
  38 Ojo's free-kick is over everyone and out for a throw on the left to Barnsley
• 3:39pm
  The hosts have really struggled to offer anything in attack so far
• 3:41pm
  It's turned into a really stodgy match now with Barnsley struggling to get their wide players in space and put quality in the box like they did early on, or play men in behind the home back line. They are not getting as much space to do that and resorting to more aimless long balls
• 3:42pm
  De Gevigney has to come off for some treatment after a whack to the face
• 3:42pm
  Play continues with no MDG
• 3:43pm
  Looks like Mael has a cut to the head. I think he will carry on though once it's treated. Reds currently down to ten
• 3:45pm
  YELLOW CARD

  Donovan Pines booked for bringing down George Lloyd
• 3:45pm
  MDG back on with a bandage around his head to defend this free-kick
• 3:45pm
  44 Ojo tries to play a clever free-kick down the right which is intercepted then his 35 yard shot is well over
• 3:46pm
  It's a first shot for the hosts, though
• 3:46pm
  Four added minutes this half
• 3:46pm
  Barnsley win a throw on the right which Roberts will take
• 3:47pm
  45+1 Roberts' long throw on right is turned behind for a corner
• 3:48pm
  45+2 Connell corner on right is punched why the goalkeeper then Roberts wants a foul as it goes out for another corner on the left
• 3:48pm
  GOAL!

  Jon Russell nets on the stroke of half-time
• 3:50pm
  A powerful volleyed finish in the air into the top right corner after Connell lobbed the ball back into the box following a corner
• 3:51pm
  45+5 Killip dives to his right to push long range Bloxham effort wide for corner
• 3:51pm
  Terrible corner to edge of box cleared
• 3:52pm
  HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury 0, Barnsley 1.
• 4:06pm
  SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
• 4:08pm
  Barnsley are shooting into the sun this half. Killip has his cap on
• 4:08pm
  GOAL!

  Max Watters doubles the lead two minutes into the second half
• 4:11pm
  Runs onto an O'Keeffe pass on the right of the box, beats a man and finishes nicely
• 4:11pm
  Watters should make it three as he is put clean through but is denied one on one by the goalkeeper
• 4:14pm
  Barnsley well in control now. They are playing against a very bad side on today's evidence, and the league table. But they are taking advantage of that and the away end is having fun
• 4:15pm
  Now a Roberts throw drops for Watters whose volley is caught by the goalie
• 4:17pm
  Connell has had a really good game. One assist and it could have been three if Watters had scored his two one on one chances
• 4:17pm
  The home fans around me are pretty miffed. No surprise as they have won two in 20
• 4:20pm
  Humphrys is down and will get treatment
• 4:20pm
  Double change for the hosts
• 4:21pm
  John Marquis for Taylor Perry and Leo Castledine for Jordan Rossiter
• 4:22pm
  Humphrys has walked all the way around the pitch but he's not coming off
• 4:23pm
  Shrewsbury win a corner on the right
• 4:23pm
  62 Shrewsbury's right-wing corner is half cleared then Ojo's shot is blocked by Gent and the next effort turned well wide
• 4:23pm
  Cotter coming on for the Reds
• 4:24pm
  Watters is down now and the physio is back on
• 4:24pm
  Cotter and Craig both coming on
• 4:24pm
  Cotter on for Gent, Craig on for Watters
• 4:26pm
  O'Keeffe on the left now and Craig has joined Connell in the middle, with Russell further forward
• 4:26pm
  Keillor-Dunn and Humphrys up front
• 4:28pm
  The match has certainly calmed down after Barnsley did the damage before and after half-time. But they won't mind that too much. They look in control at the moment, although they can't let Shrewsbury get momentum as the match isn't won
• 4:30pm
  69 Shrewsbury free-kick on right, taken by Funso Ojo. Headed out then Bloxham's long-range shot is blocked by the head of Roberts
• 4:33pm
  I'm getting a bit sleepy here in the Shropshire sun. Barnsley seem to be coasting towards a win, but the hosts are getting more of the ball now. Still no real chances for them this half
• 4:33pm
  73 A throw on the left by Shrewsbury then a cross which is headed behind by MDG for a corner
• 4:34pm
  73 Left wing corner by Ojo. Scrambled out by Mael
• 4:35pm
  We're coming up to 75 minutes which has been the danger zone for the Reds this season – they have conceded nine goals after this point in games which is the most in England
• 4:36pm
  There is no sign of a comeback here though, as Russell gets in on the right of the box but his low cross whizzes past the goal with DKD not on the same wavelength
• 4:37pm
  Jalo is ready to come on
• 4:39pm
  78 Barnsley win a free-kick on the right
• 4:39pm
  78 Connell's free-kick is cleared
• 4:40pm
  Jalo still waiting to come on. He's been standing there for a few minutes
• 4:41pm
  Barnsley win another free-kick on the right. I don't think they want to bring Jalo on when they have a set piece because he's not the tallest
• 4:42pm
  81 O'Keeffe's free-kick is headed well over by Robert who thinks it's a corner
• 4:42pm
  Jalo on for Humphrys
• 4:43pm
  Now Jalo is down within seconds of coming on
• 4:45pm
  Looks like Jalo will carry on
• 4:47pm
  Shrewsbury trying to put pressure on Barnsley as we go into the 8th minute but they just can't break down this Rerds back line at the moment. Poor quality crosses and passes are being easily dealt with
• 4:49pm
  Shrewsbury win a free-kick on halfway. It drops in the box but Roberts hacks clear
• 4:50pm
  89 Shrewsbury free-kick on left
• 4:50pm
  It's cleared then Bloxham shoots wide wide with a volley
• 4:52pm
  Kelechi Nwakali makes his league debut for the Reds, Connell off. Five added minutes.
• 4:53pm
  YELLOW CARD

  Toto Nsiala booked for taken out O'Keeffe
• 4:53pm
  So close to a third. Keillor-Dunn clean through but the goalkeeper saves with his legs
• 4:54pm
  Nwakali corner cleared
• 4:54pm
  Cotter wins a free-kick on the right
• 4:58pm
  FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury 0, Barnsley 2