Big-match verdict: Captain Marc Roberts adamant Barnsley will learn lessons

Sixteen days earlier, the seemingly unflappable Chris Hughton lost his rag with his brow-beaten side at half-time in their encounter at Huddersfield Town – issuing an ‘absolute rollicking’ according to tunnel-area witnesses.

On the day, it failed to do the trick with Brighton going down 3-1 and the inquest continued at the full-time whistle.

Given the evidence of Saturday, it seems as if the Albion players perhaps heeded those words after all, against another upwardly mobile White Rose side in Barnsley.

After punching above their weight for swathes of this season, Barnsley met their match in the shape of a well-conditioned opponent with a strong jaw and plenty of ring craft.

Granted, it was an improved Reds performance from their meek defeat on the south coast in the autumn, but the same scoreline nevertheless, with Brighton possessing the nous and ruthlessness at both ends of the pitch which is befitting of a side who, in all likelihood, will be popping the champagne corks in May.

Ahead of the game, home forward Marley Watkins spoke about few sides being able to live with Barnsley when they are ‘at it’ and he did have a fair point.

But, despite displaying plenty of high velocity and typical intent, more especially in a very presentable opening half-hour, the Reds could not find a way through against a Brighton side who gradually drew the sting out of the hosts and struck clinically on the restart – courtesy of Sam Baldock’s double.

It was a performance which Barnsley should not berate, but there were clear things to learn from, too, with a touch of reality provided to February following adept results against Aston Villa and Reading.

It is not coincidental that both those results arrived on the road where Barnsley’s record is eye-catching – only Newcastle United have won more Championship away games this term.

But on home soil, the statistics are far less pretty, with Paul Heckingbottom’s side having the fifth worst record in the division – and no second-tier rival has also conceded more goals on their own patch.

Reds captain Marc Roberts said: “It was very disappointing on our part. We played well and probably haven’t taken our chances.

“They are quality. They have not had many chances, but they took them in the end. That is why they are up at that end of the table. There were fine margins in the game.

“We knew they are solid and do not give much away, so when you get your chances, you have got to take them.

“Unfortunately, we did not, and they have had two half-chances and a bit of quality from them and we are 2-0 down. But I do not think they troubled us that much. We stayed solid as a side. They never ripped us open.

“We have come very far as a team and we are not going to stop here. We are not in this league to make up the numbers.”

Bouquets have been thrust into Heckingbottom’s lap this month on the first anniversary of his mesmerising stint in charge at Oakwell, but the accolades belonged to a seasoned and classy Championship operator in Chris Hughton on Saturday.

On the occasion of his 100th league match in charge of Albion, Hughton was able to savour the 50th win of his sterling tenure with his post-match assertion that this latest victory represented one of the most significant of this season affording plenty of respect to Barnsley’s rise.

An opening half-hour showcased just why Heckingbottom’s side have caught the eye of such shrewd Championship observers as Hughton.

Brighton were hassled, harried and forced onto the back foot – and were hugely fortunate not to concede an 11th-minute spot-kick when Lewis Dunk clearly shepherded the ball away with his arm under pressure from Tom Bradshaw, with the cries for a penalty being instantaneous.

The hosts again pressed and Watkins’s rasping drive was beaten away in expert fashion by one of the best goalkeepers in the division in David Stockdale.

Gradually, Brighton got their bearings with Andy Yiadom’s fine challenge denying Anthony Knockaert before Baldock fired a half-volley just wide.

Adam Davies tipped away a deflected header from the wily Glenn Murray before Albion picked their moment on the restart after Bradshaw had drilled a low shot into the side-netting.

Knockaert supplied Baldock, whose instinctive shot looped over Davies to make it 1-0.

Adam Hammill was soon thrown on and he spurned an excellent chance, firing wastefully over before his second intervention proved a game-changing one. He was dispossessed and Knockaert bamboozled Yiadom before squaring to Baldock, who obligingly tucked the ball home from close range for the killer second goal.

Bruno’s great block denied Yiadom at the other end but there were few alarms for Brighton to deal with.

Barnsley: Davies; Jones, Roberts, MacDonald, Yiadom; Watkins, James, Moncur (Mowatt 80), Kent (Williams 80); Bradshaw (Hammill 63), Armstrong. Unused substitutes: Townsend, Elder, Jackson, Lee.

Brighton & HA: Stockdale; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Pocognoli; Knockaert (Tomori 90), Stephens, Sidwell, Murphy; Baldock, Murray (Akpom 88). Unused substitutes: Walton, March, Hemed, Kayal, Hunemeier.

Referee: D Coote (West Yorkshire).