Bristol City 5 Barnsley 3: Barnsley's play-off hopes fade in Bristol goal romp

City went ahead inside the opening two minutes through Danny Haynes, but goals from Hugo Colace and Daniel Bogdanovic put the Tykes ahead.

And after Nicky Maynard scored either side of the break to put the hosts ahead, further goals from Haynes and Paul Hartley extended their lead, meaning Andy Gray's header was a mere consolation.

The hosts went ahead after 69 seconds. Marvin Elliott advanced down the right and whipped in a cross for Haynes, who powered a header past Luke Steele.

But, in a frantic start, Barnsley levelled just a minute later.

Luke Potter found space on the left and produced a fine cross for Colace at the back post and the Argentinian fired home.

The visitors began to take control and the impressive Bogdanovic had a great chance to give his side the lead in the 20th minute, but his close-range header was saved by Gerken.

But the Maltese striker made amends for his wastefulness just five minutes later when he did put his side ahead and it came straight off the training ground.

Bobby Hassell took a free-kick from the right and instead of whipping a ball into the box, he cut the ball back to Bogdanovic, who had peeled off from his marker and drilled into the bottom corner.

City equalised and former Tykes winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce was inevitably the architect. The tricky wideman beat right-back Hassell and got to the bye-line, before cutting back to Maynard, who nodded in.

The hosts took the lead in the 56th minute. Full-back Bradley Orr broke into the penalty area and crossed for Maynard, who ghosted in at the pack post.

And Maynard turned provider when he set up Haynes to convert from close range.

Ryan Shotton was adjudged to have fouled Maynard inside the area and Hartley stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Gray then finished off a superb move by heading in Colace's cross with nine minutes left.

Bristol City: Gerken, Ribeiro, Carey, Campbell-Ryce, Orr, Elliott (Johnson 82), Hartley, Skuse, Fontaine, Haynes (Akinde 90), Maynard (Clarkson 90). Unused substitutes: Henderson, Sproule, Sno, Maierhofer.

Barnsley: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Shotton, Potter, Teixeira (De Silva 86), Colace, Doyle, Hallfredsson (Hume 72), Macken (Gray 67), Bogdanovic. Unused substitutes: Preece, Moore, Devaney, Butterfield.

Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire).

Middlesbrough moved up to eighth with a 2-0 home win over Preston. Chris Killen opened the scoring after 29 minutes and Jonathan Franks sealed the points in the last seconds.