Barnsley 2 Nottingham Forest 0. Callum Styles again takes the stage to fell Forest

But in the here and now, this third win in a row against a visiting Nottingham Forest side in four months was precious and head-turning.

On a day when they hit the woodwork three times, Barnsley did not feel sorry for themselves and kept going to the bitter end, as they did on that high summer day when Patrick Schmidt's strike brought them back from the dead.

Against a good Forest side, the Reds rewards came late as they secured their third successive win on home soil and fourth in five matches. They also registered their third consecutive clean sheet at Oakwell.

The deadlock in an absorbing game was broken when substitute Victor Adeboyejo and Cauley Woodrow to tee up Callum Styles, whose liking for Nottingham Forest went to new levels.

So influential in that late winner in July, Styles unleashed a rocket of a shot to put the hosts 1-0 up five minutes from time, the cue to mass joy in home ranks.

Woodrow, who had hit the bar twice, was not to be denied when he turned in Callum Brittain's cut back as Barnsley continued their upward trajectory under Valerien Ismael.

Given the form of both sides, the portents were set fair for an entertaining contest and refreshingly, it did not disappoint.

Barnsley set about Forest with a ferocity early on, with Conor Chaplin taking the lead and they were desperately unfortunate to hit the woodwork twice with quality strikes from Woodrow and Chaplin.

Forest's response was impressive and they finished the half on top in an opening period where the only surprise was that no breakthrough was forthcoming.

The Reds, who named an unchanged line-up as expected with Romal Palmer and Jordan Williams selected on a nine-man bench, gave the East Midlanders plenty to think about early on with their aggressive pressing and high tempo.

A lovely passage of play on 11 minutes, instigated by a delightful flick from Woodrow almost conjured a head-turning opener.

The move was taken on by Alex Mowatt and Chaplin before the ball found Woodrow, whose sublime 25-yard curler flew past Brice Samba, only to smack against the woodwork.

Just five minutes later, Barnsley were again left to bemoan the presence of the bar after livewire Chaplin cut inside and unleashed an arrowing angled strike which again beat Samba, only to knock on wood.

It looked a little ominous for Forest, making their third trip to this corner of South Yorkshire in 125 days, but their response was strong in a performance far removed from the torpor of their previous two visits.

It forced Jack Walton into key action, with the Reds custodian making an outstanding save with his legs to deny Miguel Angel Guerrerro, with the Forest forward also fluffing his lines witn another one-on-one opportunity later on in the half when he fired tamely at Walton.

Walton also did well to smart a smart save at his far post to block a close-range effort from the dangerous Joe Lolley, who latched on to a super cross from Anthony Knockaert when Barnsley caught out.

With Lyle Taylor leading the line well, Forest's threat was discernible, with a key covering from Michal Helik preventing Lolley from a clear run on goal while Ryan Yates saw a header ruled out for an infringement from a corner.

Forest's assertive efforts in the lead-up to the break meant that the interval arrived at a decent juncture for Barnsley, afforded time to regroup.

Evidence showed that the break did not break Forest's momentum with Lolley's dangerous low cross flashing across goal before Barnsley went close at the other end.

Frieser's bad luck in front of the Pontefract Road end would unfortunately continue when he could not convert Styles's inviting centre after Forest were opened up by a polished move also involving Chaplin - with his header flying off target.

The end to end action would continiue with Lolley, Taylor and Cyrus Christie all coming to the party for Forest.

Christie's cross almost yielded an opener, but Walton's eye-catching day continued when he made a flying save to keep out Taylor's point-blank header.

Spotting the warning signs, Ismael brought on Luke Thomas and Herbie Kane, with Frieser and the tiring James making way as Barnsley sought to regain control in the middle as Forest started to dictate.

Kane's first involvement was an offensive one, that said with the schemer displaying great technique to curl a free-kick just off target.

Still, there was no opener, despite the best efforts of those two sides with the woodwork soon to make another frustrating appearance as far as Barnsley were concerned when Woodrow's drive came back off the underside of the bar after being played in by Thomas 18 minutes from time.

But Styles then came to the party and Woodrow provided the gloss.

Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, James (Kane 62), Mowatt (Oduor 82), Styles; Chaplin (Adeboyejo 82), Woodrow, Frieser (Thomas 62). Substitutes unused: Collins, J Williams, Palmer, Miller, Schmidt.

Nottingham Forest: Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, McKenna, Ribeiro; Yates, Colback; Knockaert, Guerrero (Freeman 72), Lolley; Taylor. Substitutues unused: Smith, Mbe Soh, Jenkinson, Cafu, Arter, Ameobi, Ioannou, Bong.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants).

Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, James, Mowatt, Styles; Frieser, Woodrow, Chaplin. Substitutes unused: Collins, J Williams, Oduor, Kane, Palmer, Thomas, Miller, Adeboyejo, Schmidt.

Nottingham Forest: Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, McKenna, Ribeiro; Yates, Colback; Knockaert, Guerrero, Lolley; Taylor. Substitutues unused: Smith, Soh, Jenkinson, Cafu, Arter, Freeman, Ameobi, Ioannou, Bong.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants).