Bristol City 5 Barnsley 3: Flitcroft shocked as Barnsley caught napping

The Robins climbed off the foot of the table thanks to victory at Ashton Gate to go just three points behind Barnsley, who are now fourth from bottom, two points off the relegation zone.

Jon Stead struck in either half, Liam Fontaine hit his first goal since April, 2010 and former Barnsley defender Lewin Nyatanga and Steven Davis also got in on the act to hand the Robins their first win in three matches.

The visitors responded with Chris O’Grady’s first goal since joining on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, and further strikes from substitutes Tomasz Cywka and Jason Scotland.

Flitcroft admitted he was shocked by the manner the Tykes’ good form had come to such an abrupt halt.

He said: “I knew our great run had to end somewhere, but the way it ended surprised me.

“The goals we conceded were very poor.

“We couldn’t defend set-pieces and it is back to the training ground in that respect. And we couldn’t handle City’s strikers.

“Jon Stead and Steven Davies out-muscled us for most of the game. But we will dust ourselves down and come again.

“I have an honest bunch and they still showed great spirit after going 5-1 down so I’m sure this will just prove an off-day.”

Stead headed City in front on six minutes and it was 2-0 on 35 when Fontaine netted with a volley.

Stead’s deflected shot from 10 yards seven minutes after the break cut Barnsley further adrift and three minutes later Nyatanga made it 4-0, nodding home after Elliott had headed across goal.

Barnsley replied on 58 minutes when Tom Heaton made a brave save but O’Grady saw his shot from the rebound deflected in.

It made no difference as Davies rose above a flat-footed defence to head City’s fifth from a 67th- minute corner.

Cywka reduced the arrears with a low drive on 82 minutes before fellow substitute Scotland fired home from the edge of the area.

City head coach Sean O’Driscoll, who turned down the chance to become Barnsley boss before his appointment at Ashton Gate, said: “The game was probably more open than either side wanted.”

Bristol City: Heaton, Moloney, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Cunningham, Anderson (Adomah 76), Elliott, Kelly (Kilkenny 76), Pearson (Howard 79), Stead, Davies. Unused substitutes: Gerken, Foster, Burns, Bates.

Barnsley: Steele, Cranie, McNulty, Foster (O’Grady 38), Delap, Tunnicliffe, Perkins, O’Brien (Scotland 56), Kennedy, Dagnall, Harewood (Cywka 63). Unused substitutes: Lidakevicius, Hassell, Wiseman, Mellis. Booked: Foster.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Jon Stead.