Barnsley succumbed to defeat in the South Yorkshire derby as a Jordan Rhodes brace sealed all three points for Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell.
Substitute Carlton Morris pulled one back late in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as the Reds’ 12-game unbeaten run came to an end.
Barnsley had a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring inside two minutes, but Michael Sollbauer could only hook his effort over the bar after an Alex Mowatt corner had been flicked on.
Having weathered that early storm, the visitors looked to capitalise with balls in behind and when Rhodes rounded Brad Collins, the Owls striker somehow put it wide of the near post with the goal gaping.
Midway through the half, the Reds thought they had taken the lead when Mowatt’s corner was bundled into the net by Cauley Woodrow, but referee Tim Robinson blew for an Owls free-kick.
Daryl Dike was then hauled down just inside the penalty box but again, referee Robinson didn't agree with the Reds' appeals and the away side escaped punishment.
Against the run of play, the Owls went ahead as Rhodes powered home a close range header from Barry Bannan’s deflected cross seven minutes before the interval.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-1 Wednesday
Valérien Ismaël opted to make three changes at the break, with Morris, Aapo Halme and Toby Sibbick all introduced to give the Reds more impetus.
But when Callum Styles was robbed of possession early in the half, Josh Windass raced clear and squared for Rhodes to tap home from close range to double Wednesday’s lead.
Barnsley pressed forward for a way back into the game and, following intricate footwork inside the box, Morris teed up Dike who fired straight at Wildsmith.
With 12 minutes remaining, the Reds were handed a lifeline when Callum Brittain’s long throw was flicked on by Halme and Morris’ fierce drive found the back of the net via the aid of a deflection.
Despite a late rally, Barnsley were unable to find that elusive equaliser, but remain fifth in the Sky Bet Championship table, while Wednesday occupy the relegation places.
FULL-TIME: Reds 1-2 Wednesday
Collins, Sollbauer (Sibbick), Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Kane (Palmer), Mowatt, Styles, Frieser (Morris), Dike, Woodrow (Chaplin).
Unused: Walton, J Williams, Oduor, Moon, Adeboyejo.