Barnsley eased to a 2-0 victory over Oxford United on Saturday afternoon to keep their promotion bid alive.
Slobodan Tedić’s brace – one either side of the break – was enough to seal three more important points heading into another crucial encounter at Oakwell on Tuesday evening.
After surviving an early scare when Gatlin O’Donkor fired into the side netting from close range, the Reds gradually began to find their flow and were denied an opener as Simon Eastwood produced a fine save to thwart Tedić’s powerful header.
The Serbian striker was in the thick of things again moments later as Jordan Williams’ low cross was parried onto his shins and over the bar.
Frustrated by a lack of openings, Adam Phillips took matters into his own hands and tried his luck from 30-yards that skidded just wide of the upright.
Midway through the half, Harry Isted was called into action for the first time as he tipped Cameron Brannagan’s ferocious free-kick around the post.
Shortly before half-time, we made the breakthrough, and it was Tedić who found the net as he diverted Adam Phillips’ superb right-wing cross beyond Eastwood and into the far corner.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Oxford United
Moments after the restart, the Reds doubled their advantage through an almost carbon copy goal with Phillips turning provider once more for Tedić to slam home a powerful header in front of the Ponty End.
Oxford searched for a way back into the encounter and came close in a goal mouth scramble, only to be kept at bay by Liam Kitching’s block on the line.
The Reds continued to create openings and James Norwood – fresh from entering the fray – tested Eastwood with a thunderous drive that the visiting stopper palmed to safety.
As time ticked away, Isted further endeared himself to the Barnsley faithful to keep our clean sheet intact with a magnificent save to claw away Yanic-Sonny Wildschut’s back post header, ensuring the Reds ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2-0 Oxford United
REDS XI: Isted (GK), Williams, B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching, Larkeche (Cundy, 77), Phillips (J Benson, 85), Connell (Russell, 77), Kane, Tedić (Watters, 72), Cole (Norwood, 73).
Not used: Collins (GK), L Thomas.
OXFORD XI: Eastwood (GK), Long, Findlay, Moore (C), Brannagan, Brown, McGuane, Joseph (Bodin, 77), Smyth (Wildschut, 54), Goodrham (Murphy, 53), O’Donkor (Browne, 25).
Not used: McGinty (GK), Flemming, Anderson.
