Barnsley ended their six-game winless run with a 1-0 success at neighbours Rotherham United on Saturday lunchtime.

Adam Phillips scored a penalty just after half-time, with the Reds denied two other clear spot-kicks.

Rotherham had arguably the better chances in open play but were edged out in a poor game, with the visitors showing plenty of character.

The Reds moved up a place in the table to tenth and were seven points off the top six ahead of the 3pm games.

Darrell Clarke made three changes from the side that lost at home to Huddersfield a week earlier. Luca Connell, Adam Phillips and Marc Roberts all returned in place of Kelechi Nwakali, Clement Rodrigues and Donovan Pines. The Reds returned to a 3-5-2 system.

Barnsley were denied a strong penalty claim in the fourth minute when Reece James gifted Adam Phillips the ball in the box then appeared to pull him back but the referee did not give the spot-kick.

Very little happened for the dull next 40 minutes other than a Phillips header from a Josh Earl cross which looped straight to the goalkeeper.

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Rotherham should have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when, after Corey O’Keeffe tangled with Sam Nombe in the box amid claims of a penalty, ex-Red Mallik Wilks’ deflected cross was somehow turned wide a couple of yards out by Jordan Hugill.

Rotherham began the second half well with Wilks’ long-range shot turned wide by Gauci.

But it was the Reds who took the lead on 52 minutes. James tried to head Luca Connell’s long pass back to his goalkeeper but did not get enough on it and Dillon Phillips felled Davis Keillor-Dunn. Adam Phillips converted the spot-kick.

Nombe headed over a Joe Powell free-kick then, at the other end, Jon Russell received a Phillips pass and beat a man but shot well wide.

Barnsley should have been given another penalty just after the hour-mark when defender Zak Jules clearly handled the ball in the box.

Barnsley brought on Clement Rodrigues and Dexter Lembikisa for Humphrys and Neil Farrugia just after the hour.

Nombe again headed well wide from a Powell corner then a free-kick was turned wide a few yards out by substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Connell picked up his tenth booking of the season so will miss the games at Northampton on Tuesday and at home to Lincoln the following Saturday.

Goalkeeper Gauci then came off injured and was replaced by debutant Jackson Smith.

Adam Phillips saw a low 30-yarder saved by namesake Dillon Phillips.

Smith saved easily from an Odoffin header in the last of ten added minutes.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Gauci (Smith 76mins); de Givegney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe, Phillips (Benson 87), Connell, Russell, Farrugia (Lembikisa 63); Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys (Rodrigues 63).

Unused: McCarthy, Nwakali, Lewis.

Yellow cards: Connell.

Goals: Phillips 52 (pen).

Rotherham: Phillips; Rafferty, Jules, Odoffin, James; Mpanzu, Powell (Kayode 86), Sibley (Clarke-Harris 63); Wilks, Nombe, Hugill (Green HT).

Unused: Dawson, McWilliams, Holmes, Hatton.

Yellow cards: Wilks.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 12:31pm
    Away end noisy. Barnsley back in 3-5-2 today
  • 12:32pm
    The Reds are wearing their red home shorts but away grey shirts and shorts. Must be to avoid a clash with Rotherham's white shorts
  • 12:32pm
    Mael loses ball in box to Sam Noble but he passes back and the move fizzles out
  • 12:34pm
    Big shouts for a penalty on Phillips. I think it was Reece James
  • 12:36pm
    I think Barnsley can feel pretty aggrieved. He was through on goal and looked to be pulled back
  • 12:37pm
    Rotherham win a corner on right after Earl does well to head a dangerous ball away then Farrugia blocks a cross
  • 12:37pm
    8 Joe Powell's left-wing corner is missed by everyone then hits a head and DKD slices away
  • 12:38pm
    Then Powell is in space to cross on right but blasts it way too far
  • 12:39pm
    A great run through the middle by Russell who finds Farrugia on the left but his cross is blocked
  • 12:39pm
    Farrugia wins ball near home box and Humphrys cross blocked out for throw on left
  • 12:39pm
    11 Long Roberts throw on left, headed out
  • 12:41pm
    Powell free-kick on left headed out by Earl again
  • 12:41pm
    12 Rafferty throw on right blasted out by Phillips
  • 12:43pm
    Decent Barnsley move ends in low O'Keeffe cross held by the goalkeeper
  • 12:44pm
    A pretty solid opening for the Reds. They have had a strong penalty shout declined and look pretty good on the counter attack
  • 12:45pm
    Rotherham win a corner on the left as a deep cross is blocked behind
  • 12:46pm
    16 Powell corner on left., Roberts heads out then next cross headed away by Earl
  • 12:46pm
    Phillips plays O'Keeffe down right and looks to be taken out by Reece James but goal kick given
  • 12:48pm
    Ex Red Wilks wins another corner on left
  • 12:49pm
    20 Powell corner on left. Roberts heads out but is fouled
  • 12:50pm
    Both wing backs for the Reds see crosses headed out
  • 12:50pm
    Hugill brings ball down then is tripped by Farrugia. Free-kick to the Millers on the right
  • 12:51pm
    22 Joe Powell's right-wing free-kick is headed out
  • 12:52pm
    Rotherham have had a lot of set plays and a fair bit of the ball in the Reds half but no chances
  • 12:55pm
    Connell, who has not had much of the ball, blasts a terrible pass out for a throw
  • 12:56pm
    Russell wins the ball and Phillips has a long range shot blocked
  • 12:57pm
    First shot on target. Earl cross headed by Phillips and it loops to the goalkeeper
  • 12:58pm
    Phillips almost put through by a clever clipped Humphrys pass but just can't bring it down
  • 1:00pm
    Barnsley definitely on top last five minutes or so. They have been the more ambitious team playing better football
  • 1:02pm
    Roberts stoops low to head dangerous left wing cross behind for corner
  • 1:02pm
    33 Rotherham corner on left. Headed out then cleared by DKD
  • 1:03pm
    Earl easily beaten but Nombe whose cross is punched out by Gauci
  • 1:03pm
    Good spell for the hosts. Wilks shot blocked just outside box
  • 1:05pm
    This is scrappy with very little quality and even less attacking chances
  • 1:06pm
    At least Barnsley have got a bit more of the ball in the last few minutes after a spell of defending
  • 1:06pm
    Roberts chance for a long throw on the right
  • 1:07pm
    38 Roberts long throw touched into air by air then it comes back to Roberts whose low cross is caught by the goalkeeper
  • 1:08pm
    Barnsley pushing to get forward in the last few minutes but struggling to break down a stubborn defence
  • 1:08pm
    The Reds win a fee-kick on the right touchline about 35 yards back. Looks like Connell to take
  • 1:09pm
    40 Connell's left-wing free-kick is over everyone and caught by the goalkeeper
  • 1:10pm
    Close for the hosts. A cross from the left is missed by Gauci but no one there to tap it in
  • 1:11pm
    DKD finds Humphrys is box and his cross is turned behind for a corner on the right
  • 1:12pm
    Phillips' right wing corner is played low to O'Keeffe whose shot is blocked from 20 yards. Then Rotherham counter and Wilks wins a corner on the left
  • 1:12pm
    43 Powell corner on the left cleared by MDG
  • 1:13pm
    Odoffin wins a corner on the right after being left ion a lot of space on the right of the box
  • 1:14pm
    44 Powell's right-wing corner then Roberts heads out and O'Keeffe heads out the next cross
  • 1:14pm
    Hugill misses an open goal
  • 1:15pm
    Seconds before O'Keeffe seemed to wrestle Nombe to the ground in the box then Wilks' deflected cross is somehow turned wide
  • 1:16pm
    HALF-TIME: Rotherham 0, Barnsley 0.
  • 1:31pm
    Rotherham are bringing on Andre Green for Hugill
  • 1:31pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 1:32pm
    A scramble in the Reds box but easily cleared in the end
  • 1:33pm
    Rotherham have started well. Wilks' cross deflected just wide of bottom left corner for a corner
  • 1:34pm
    Rotherham take the corner shot but lose it and it's out for a throw on the left
  • 1:34pm
    James wins a corner off O'Keeffe
  • 1:35pm
    Powell corner on the left headed out by Roberts
  • 1:35pm
    Another corner won by the Millers on the left
  • 1:36pm
    50 Powell corner on left caught easily by Gauci
  • 1:36pm
    Penalty to Barnsley
  • 1:37pm
    Terrible header by James and DKD is fouled by the goalkeeper
  • 1:38pm
    GOAL!
    Adam Phillips opens the scoring from the penalty spot
  • 1:40pm
    Poor afternoon so far for Reece James. He got away with a foul on Phillips early on after losing the ball in his box and this time he tries to head a long Connell ball back to his goalkeeper but lets in Keillor Dunn who is clearly taken out by the 'keeper. Phillips keeps his head
  • 1:42pm
    The away end is in full voice now
  • 1:42pm
    Free-kick to Rotherham on the left
  • 1:43pm
    Powell's free-kick from the left is headed by Nombe but loops over the bar
  • 1:44pm
    Nice pass by Phillips into Russell who beats a man in the box but shoots well wide
  • 1:45pm
    Now it becomes a question of can Barnsley see this through as they have struggled to do all season
  • 1:47pm
    2,207 away fans
  • 1:48pm
    Dear me. Another blatant penalty missed. Jules handballs in the box
  • 1:49pm
    Barnsley bring on Clement Rodrigues for Humphrys and Dexter Lembikisa for Farrugia
  • 1:52pm
    Connell shoots well over
  • 1:52pm
    Rotherham have brought on Jonson Clarke-Harris for Sibley
  • 1:53pm
    Rotherham win a corner on the left
  • 1:54pm
    68 Powell corner on left headed well wide by Nombe under pressure from Earl
  • 1:55pm
    Lembikisa wins a corner on the right
  • 1:55pm
    Delay as Gauci gets some treatment
  • 1:57pm
    71 O'Keeffe's corner is then headed out then Nombe taken out by Connell
  • 1:58pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Luca Connell gets his tenth booking of the season. He will miss next two games
  • 1:58pm
    Powell free-kick turned wide at the near post
  • 1:59pm
    O'Keeffe blasts well over from distance
  • 2:01pm
    Joe Gauci coming off injured so Jackson Smith will make his debut
  • 2:02pm
    Rafferty smashes well wide from distance after good home move
  • 2:05pm
    So Barnsley now have a debutant goalkeeper in net against a very direct side. Big test
  • 2:06pm
    Great run by Roberts then he's taken out. He's hurt himself but will continue. Free-kick for the Reds on halfway
  • 2:07pm
    Into the last ten minutes here. Can the Reds hold on for a huge win?
  • 2:09pm
    Roberts to take a long throw on the right
  • 2:09pm
    Throw cleared but Lembikisa wins another when his cross is blocked
  • 2:09pm
    Next throw cleared back to Roberts who overhits cross
  • 2:10pm
    Phillips' shot from about 30 yards is well struck and saved by his namesake Dillon Phillips diving down to his left
  • 2:11pm
    O'Keeffe corner headed out
  • 2:12pm
    Green counters then Mpanzu blocked
  • 2:12pm
    Joshua Kayode comes on for Joe Powell for Rotherham
  • 2:12pm
    Barnsley bring on Benson for Phillips
  • 2:15pm
    Into the 90th minute now. Barnsley fans cheering passes
  • 2:16pm
    Ten added minutes
  • 2:18pm
    Long throw headed out by Roberts
  • 2:18pm
    Rotherham think they should have a corner on the right but a goal kick is given
  • 2:20pm
    Lively sub Kayode wins a corner on the right
  • 2:20pm
    90+3 Reece James' right-wing corner is headed up then Kayode heads it straight towards Jackson Smith who gathers
  • 2:22pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Mallik Wilks booked for a cynical trip on O'Keeffe
  • 2:23pm
    90+6 Clarke Harris nearly played through by a long ball but Mael just gets there and heads back to Smith
  • 2:24pm
    Rotherham goalkeeper wants to go up for a free-kick then runs back
  • 2:25pm
    Now the goalkeeper will take a free-kick just in his half
  • 2:25pm
    90+9 Rotherham given a free-kick on left wing. Surely last chance. Goalkeeper goes up
  • 2:26pm
    Reece James' free-kick headed towards goal by Odoffin but Smith saves easily
  • 2:27pm
    FULL-TIME: Rotherham 0, Barnsley 1

READ MORE: Rec end winless run