Barnsley 2 Wycombe 1 - Cauley Woodrow on the spot to grind out Oakwell win

It is the tough victories that count for the most in the grip of a Championship winter, and a Reds side who had made life too easy for Bournemouth on the same ground five days earlier put their 4-0 defeat that night to bed.

Memories of the game have probably already faded, but the satisfaction will last at least until Saturday, when they return to the treadmill against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

With no crowd to quieten, Gareth Ainsworth’s Wanderers had to silence Reds coach Valerien Ismael. Whilst their football was nothing to shout about, the Chairboys made life uncomfortable until yet another Cauley Woodrow penalty ensured a deserved home win that moved Barnsley up to 16th.

Ismael’s frustration with a bitty first half was audible as he waved his arms on the touchline.

Callum Styles and Jack Walton both shanked clearances, moves broke down, crosses were blocked and there was the odd outbreak of midfield head tennis.

“One-two play, one-two play!” demanded Barnsley’s animated coach, “Come on!”

His Barnsley side had the better of what football was played and deservedly took the lead through Styles after 31 minutes.

For all that his rested side, rejuvenated by three changes from Friday’s defeat to Bournemouth, took time to find their fluency, all the pressure was at Wanderers’ end in the opening 45 minutes.

Woodrow had a shot blocked and the recalled Matty James forced the first save of the night.

With Luke Thomas in his eyeline, Alex Mowatt was unable to get hold of a volley when a 21st-minute corner found its way to him.

Woodrow was a lively presence at centre-forward, like all of the front three not shackled to one area of the field, and in the 24th minute he produced a lovely turn in the penalty area only to see another cross cut out. “Handball!” yelled Ismael from just the other side of the halfway line.

Styles came inside from right wing-back and picked out his left-sided counterpart Callum Brittain, who flashed wide from a tight angle.

“Come on!” urged Ismael, “Be stronger!”

Whatever the intention, Conor Chaplin’s volley from a corner pulled back to him turned out to be more cross than shot.

Eventually perseverance was bound to pay off and when a long diagonal pass picked out Styles he calmly took a touch and scored his third goal in six games.

There ought to have been a second a minute later but Chaplin did not get hold of his shot after cutting inside.

Walton’s first save of the night did not come until the 47th-minute although it was worth the wait, brilliantly denying David Wheeler’s glancing header at a corner.

Quickly after came the unexpected equaliser as Ismael simmered, arms crossed in his technical area.

On his first league start of the season, Aapo Halme was caught the wrong side of Gareth McCleary, who he brought down. Joe Jacobson tucked away the penalty.

Halme almost made amends, volleying wide after chesting a James corner but Wycombe had belatedly got a taste for attacking, and McCleary saw a shot deflected into the hands of Walton.

Woodrow scored twice in a matter of seconds but only one counted and inevitably for a man who has scored five of his six league goals this season from the 12-yard spot, it was the penalty.

Chaplin released Thomas with an excellent pass and when the winger cut inside and was brought down by Josh Knight, Geoff Eltringham was too quick on his whistle, blowing it a second before Woodrow converted the loose ball. The penalty was a tighter finish, just underneath the diving Allsop.

Ismael only chirped up again in the final 20 minutes, his heart-rate no doubt lifted by some excellent footwork by Victor Adeboyejo back defending in his own area.

Allsop made an excellent 87th-minute save when Dominik Frieser was released by Brittain’s equally good curling pass.

By stoppage time Ismael was frantic again, urging his players to keep the ball in the corner. This was not about entertaining, it was about getting the job done.

Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Halme, Andersen; Brittain, James (Kane 64), Mowatt (Palmer 82), Styles; Thomas (Frieser 64), Woodrow, Chaplin (Adeboyejo 64). Unused substitutes: Schmidt, Oduor, Miller, Helik, Collins.

Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop; McCarthy, Knight, Grimmer, Jacobson; McCleary, Horgan (Mehmeti 84), Gape, Wheeler (Bloomfield 84); Kashket (Onyedinma 74); Akinfenwa (Samuel 84). Unused substitutes: Pattison, Freeman, Adeniran, Parker, Stockdale.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne and Wear).

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