Video - Fleetwood 0 Barnsley 2: Josh Scowen takes praise as Reds move back up

The JP Trophy finalists moved above Bradford City after goalkeeper Adam Davies, who had a comfortable second half, had twice prevented Thomas Grant putting the home side ahead in the opening 45 minutes.

Barnsley took the lead soon after the break when Joe Davis headed the ball into his own net after Sam Winnall pressured the centre-back into a misunderstanding with goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.

Substitute Josh Scowen nodded home Adam Hammill’s corner to make sure of the points six minutes from time, condemning the hosts to a third successive defeat.

Reds’ caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “To record a clean sheet away from home is massive and that is what we have built a lot of our recent success upon.

“Our goalkeeper made two important saves at the start of the game, but we finished the half stronger.

“We scored the first goal by putting their defence under pressure, so we got the rewards for our hard work.

“Josh Scowen made a huge impact when he came on. He was our best player at the start of the season but was really unfortunate to get an injury when he did. I am delighted he came off the bench to score.”

Fleetwood’s defeat sees them sitting just three points above the relegation zone.

Fleetwood Town: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Nilsson, Davis, Bell, Ryan, Jonsson (Scougall 70), Thomas Grant, Ball (Sarcevic 58), Ameobi (Cole 31), Burns. Unused substitutes: Jordan, Hornby-Forbes, Hunter, Gogic.

Barnsley: Davies, Connolly, Roberts, Mawson, George Williams, Isgrove (Chapman 89), Brownhill, Hourihane, Hammill, Fletcher (Scowen 76), Winnall. Unused substitutes: Smith, Nyatanga, Townsend, Khan, Tuton.

Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Man of the match: Conor Hourihane.