Barnsley FC 3 Accrington 1: Men against boys as Reds send message to their League One rivals

After three successive defeats, talk on the League One circuit may have been about Barnsley being vulnerable among the chasing play-off pack.

Here, they produced an emphatic answer, chiefly by way of a three-goal blast in the first 20 minutes.

Barnsley would have no doubt settled for any sort of win, given their recent form. In the event, they were afforded a bonanza against an Accrington side whose appalling defending had to be seen to be believed at times.

In mitigation, Stanley’s absentee count is apparently in double figures. Speaking of double figures, the evidence of the opening half-hour suggested that the potential for achieving that in goals was within the rampant hosts’ remit.

Every time Barnsley went forward, something looked like happening. In the event, they had to settle for three inside the opening 20 minutes.

The decision to plump for the wily and experienced James Norwood reaped an early dividend by virtue of a quite brilliant opener on five minutes.

Adam Phillips’s cross was helped on by debutant Bobby Thomas and the Reds striker showed marvellous technique to net with an exquisite acrobatic shot. A thing of beauty in front of the Pontefract Road end.

It was a settler for Barnsley. Michael Duff will have wanted to see their ruthless side and Barnsley duly delivered.

A second was not long in coming.

A cross from the left from Luca Connell - who had a ball in the first half along with others - was coughed up by Stanley keeper Toby Savin with Norwood in close proximity.

Backing up, Aitchison tucked away the loose ball nicely -his first Oakwell goal at competitive level.

With no seniority in a kamikaze back line, you feared for Accrington and Barnsley showed no mercy.

Their malaise was summed up when Harvey Rodgers’ clearance almost ended up in his own net. Soon after, the ball did with an increasing air of inevitability.

A lovely move saw Connell spray a raking pass to the right to Phillips, whose clever inside pass found the supporting Williams, who netted with ease. A beautifully crafted goal and his third at Oakwell this term.

The game now over as a competitive entity, it was a question of how many.

A fourth nearly arrived before the break when Phillips found Norwood, whose rasping shot was beaten away at his near post by Savin.

For Barnsley, the second half was about maintaining the intensity, knowing if they did that, chances would surely come.

Herbie Kane went close twice early on as the hosts continued to fill their boots against limited opponents.

More chances for a fourth arrived with Mads Andersen heading over from Connell’s corner.

A late penalty to add to their litany of recent awards against them – a fifth in six games - did arrive at the death after sub Larkeche was penalised after bundling down fellow substitute Rosaire Longelo after failing to clear his lines.

Tommy Leigh just crept over the line after Collins got the contact - the last action of the game. It was consolation with a small c.

It might have irked Duff, but he also had plenty to be enthused about.

Barnsley: Collins; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Phillips, Connell, Kane (Wolfe 82), Cadden (Larkeche 81); Aitchison (Watters 65), Norwood (Cole 76). Substitutes unused: Searle, J Martin, Oduor.

Accrington: Savin; Astley (Nottingham 79), Tharme (Perritt 80), Rodgers; Coyle; Quirk, D Martin, Hamilton (Longelo 60), McConville (Adekoya 70); Whalley (Woods 60), Leigh. Substitutes unused: Jensen, Fernandes.

Referee: C Brook (Sussex).

Attendance: 9,893 (247 Accrington supporters).