Barnsley lost 2-0 to Millwall on a frustrating afternoon at Oakwell.
Lee Gregory struck midway through the first half before Ben Marshall fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25-yards to seal all three points for Neil Harris’ side.
As was the case against Norwich City on Tuesday evening, the Reds dominated for long periods of the game but were unable to turn possession into goals.
Oli McBurnie and Kieffer Moore both came close in the opening stages, while Mamadou Thiam saw his cross almost loop over Jordan Archer’s head and into the far corner.
But it was Millwall who opened the scoring on 24 minutes through Gregory. The Lions won possession in the Barnsley half and broke at pace before finding Gregory who slid it expertly under the onrushing Nick Townsend.
The blustery, wintry weather conditions made it difficult for the players, with the ball often often being carried out of play by strong, swirling winds.
Millwall almost had their second just after the half hour mark, but George Saville was unable to keep his shot down after rounding Townsend.
José Morais’ side came out firing on all cylinders after the restart, and Liam Lindsay came close to equalising when his low shot found it’s way through a crowd of legs only for Archer to tip it round the post.
Barnsley continued to press and create chances but found Archer in fine form as he flung himself to his left to parry Moore’s powerful header.
Just when it looked as though the Reds were in the ascendency, Marshall struck the killer blow as he lined up the ball from distance and bent an incredible shot into the far top corner, leaving Townsend stranded.
It was harsh on Barnsley, who had shown plenty of creative endeavour but to little avail.
That didn’t deter the hosts, who introduced Tom Bradshaw in a bid to add more firepower to the attack. Thiam floated a cross to the back post and McBurnie rose highest to head past Archer, only for Shaun Hutchinson to hook the ball off the line.
In the resulting melee, Thiam’s showed quick footwork in the box to create a yard of space but his thunderous shot was blocked by Archer.
Lloyd Isgrove was introduced for Lindsay with ten minutes remaining as Morais put more emphasis on the attack. Gary Gardner picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and unleashed a fierce drive that whistled just wide of the post.
Moore came close to putting Barnsley back in contention late on, but he couldn’t quite connect with McBurnie’s cross and Archer was able to collect comfortably.
REDS XI: Townsend, Yiadom (c), Jackson, Lindsay (Isgrove, 81), Pinillos, Mallan (Moncur, 46), Gardner, Potts (Bradshaw, 66), Thiam, Moore, McBurnie
Not used: Walton, Mahoney, Pearson, Cavaré
MILLWALL XI: Archer, Meredith, Hutchinson, Williams, Gregory (Shackell, 75), Romeo, Wallace, Morison (c) (Cahill, 90), Saville, Cooper, Marshall (Onyedinma, 79)
Not used: Martin, Tunnicliffe, Elliott, O’Brien
Attendance: 13,041
