Barnsley suffered a 3-2 defeat against Sheffield United in the South Yorkshire derby on Sunday afternoon.
Lys Mousset’s second half brace was added to by Ben Osborn before fine finishes from Devante Cole and Aaron Leya Iseka sparked a late revival, but it wasn’t enough as the Blades left Oakwell with all three points.
In a cagey opening 20 minutes, the visitors enjoyed more possession but neither side created any clear-cut opportunities, with Mousset dragging an effort wide before Victor Adeboyejo’s pull back from the byline evaded everyone in red.
The first attempt on target came shortly before the interval, when Mousset latched onto Iliman Ndiaye’s cross but saw his shot gathered comfortably by Brad Collins.
Moments later, we had a chance of our own following intricate work down the left flank between Dominik Frieser and Adeboyejo, with the latter picking out Jasper Moon who headed narrowly over the bar.
Barnsley ended the half strongly and Callum Styles fired a low ball into the box that Adeboyejo diverted towards goal, but Robin Olson was equal to his flick at the near post.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-0 Sheffield United
Within six minutes of the restart, United were ahead as Mousset cut in from the left and fired an unerring strike into the far corner.
Just two minutes later, the Blades had doubled their lead when Mousset slid home to convert Osborn’s cross.
The Reds rallied and came close twice in a matter of moments through Cauley Woodrow, who fired a free-kick wide before Jasper Moon rattled the upright with a fierce drive from 18-yards.
Substitute Cole then had a magnificent opportunity to halve the deficit midway through the half but, on the stretch, he couldn’t turn home Styles’ fizzing low ball across the face of goal.
We were made to pay for those missed chances, though, when Osborn was allowed time on the ball inside the area to drill past Collins.
Barnsley pulled one back 13 minutes from time through Cole, who expertly controlled Styles’ cross before lashing high into the top corner.
Shortly after, mesmeric work from Leya Iseka on the edge of the box allowed him to work the space, which he drove into and crashed an unstoppable strike beyond Olsen to set up a tense finale.
However, despite a spirited effort, the Reds were unable to find that elusive equaliser.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2-3 Sheffield United
REDS XI: Collins (GK), Sibbick, Helik, Kitching (Hondermarck, 74), Brittain, Moon, Gomes, Styles, Frieser (Iseka, 54), Woodrow (C), Adeboyejo (Cole, 59).
Not used: Walton (GK), Vita, Oduor, Oularé.
BLADES XI: Olsen (GK), Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, McBurnie (Basham, 86), Mousset (Sharp, 61), Egan (C), Norwood, Davies, Osborn, Ndiaye (McGoldrick, 70).
Not used: Foderingham (GK), Brewster, Robinson, Hourihane.
