Matt Fryatt's hat-trick kept alive Hull's slim hopes of reaching the play-offs while other results ensured Barnsley cannot be relegated.

Fryatt struck twice in quick succession with almost identical finishes from close range to give Hull a deserved lead after a dominant first half.

Andy Gray headed in at the near post from Reuben Noble-Lazarus's corner to reward Barnsley's second-half pressure.

But Fryatt added a fine solo effort for his third to ensure victory.

However, Hull are six points behind the play-off places so they will need to win both their remaining two games and hope Blackpool or Cardiff fail to take another point.

Both sides have a superior goal difference to the Tigers, who also trail seventh-placed Middlesbrough by two points.

Former Leicester striker Fryatt took his tally for the season to 15 as he helped to extend Barnsley's poor run to only one victory from 13 matches and no away wins in nine.

The home side controlled the first half and saw Corry Evans' first-time shot hit the outside of a post, while Fryatt was twice denied by Barnsley goalkeeper David Button before opening the scoring.

Barnsley improved after the interval, helped by Hull's lack of urgency, with Craig Davies going close before Gray headed in only his side's third goal in 10 matches.

A flurry of corners offered Barnsley some hope of a late leveller before Fryatt put the game to bed.

Hull boss Nicky Barmby: "Believe it or not, we weren't thinking about it (the play-offs).

"We wanted a good performance and a good win. We owe it to the fans to finish on a positive note and you've seen that.

"The first half was excellent, how I know we can play. We created a number of opportunities. Second half showed that no team has a God-given right to dominate for 90 minutes. We knew Barnsley would come at us, and to their credit they did, and they pegged us back.

"We knew if we weathered the storm we could hit them on the break and we did."

Barnsley boss Keith Hill: "Our form has been awful since the turn of the year. When I came in we were relegation favourites, but we've overcome that and we've done it within our financial structure.

"Our football club and the fans should be proud of that.

"It leaves a slightly bitter taste because our form up to January was excellent and gave us encouragement in terms of what we thought we were building."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Hull City

  • 28 Mannone
  • 02 Rosenior (Brady - 80' )
  • 03 Dawson
  • 05 Chester
  • 34 Cooper
  • 07 Stewart (King - 63' )
  • 08 Evans
  • 10 Koren
  • 14 Cairney (McKenna - 65' )
  • 12 Fryatt
  • 29 Garcia

Substitutes

  • 33 Cracknell
  • 26 Bradley
  • 04 McKenna
  • 17 Brady
  • 27 King

Barnsley

  • 25 Button
  • 06 Foster Booked (Dawson - 46' )
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 15 McNulty
  • 23 Collins
  • 05 Doyle
  • 08 O'Brien (Higginbotham - 58' )
  • 11 Perkins
  • 17 Cotterill (Noble-Lazarus - 63' )
  • 09 Davies
  • 27 Gray

Substitutes

  • 07 Dawson
  • 28 Tonge
  • 18 Higginbotham
  • 21 Nouble
  • 24 Noble-Lazarus
Ref: Tierney
Att: 16,604

Match Stats

Shots

16 15

On target

13 9

Corners

3 13

Fouls

10 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:00 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Wiseman on Joshua King. Andy Dawson takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:19

Short corner taken by Kallum Higginbotham.

90:00 +1:37

Robert Koren is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by David Button.

90:00 +0:44

Joshua King takes a shot. David Button gets a block in. Corner from the right by-line taken by Robert Koren, Liam Cooper takes a shot. Craig Davies makes a clearance.

88:11

Unfair challenge on Stephen Dawson by James Chester results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Craig Davies from the free kick, Paul McKenna manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kallum Higginbotham, Vito Mannone makes a save.

87:07

Kallum Higginbotham takes a shot. Save made by Vito Mannone.

85:03

Foul by Stephen Dawson on Robert Koren, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by James Chester.

82:47

Assist on the goal came from Andy Dawson.

82:47 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Fryatt - Hull 3 - 1 Barnsley A goal is scored by Matt Fryatt from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hull 3-1 Barnsley.

82:01

Robert Koren takes a shot. Lee Collins gets a block in.

81:22

The ball is crossed by Robbie Brady.

79:34 Substitution

Substitution Robbie Brady replaces Liam Rosenior.

79:05

The ball is crossed by Reuben Noble-Lazarus, blocked by Liam Rosenior. Kallum Higginbotham takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Corry Evans makes a clearance.

77:50

Kallum Higginbotham takes a shot. Richard Garcia gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Reuben Noble-Lazarus from the left by-line, Jimmy McNulty has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.

77:20

Craig Davies takes a shot. Blocked by James Chester. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kallum Higginbotham from the left by-line, Liam Cooper makes a clearance.

76:27

A cross is delivered by Andy Dawson, Shot by Joshua King from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

73:50

Assist by Reuben Noble-Lazarus.

73:50 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Gray - Hull 2 - 1 Barnsley Andy Gray scores a headed goal from close in. Hull 2-1 Barnsley.

73:26

The ball is swung over by Craig Davies, blocked by Andy Dawson. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Reuben Noble-Lazarus from the right by-line to the near post,

71:13

Andy Dawson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Gray. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Nathan Doyle from right wing, clearance by James Chester.

69:57

David Perkins delivers the ball, clearance by Liam Cooper.

69:41

The ball is delivered by Kallum Higginbotham, Corry Evans manages to make a clearance.

69:00

Matt Fryatt is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Button restarts play with the free kick.

66:40

The ball is swung over by Matt Fryatt, Headed effort from inside the area by Richard Garcia misses to the left of the goal.

62:08

Vito Mannone takes the direct free kick.

62:08 Substitution

Substitution Paul McKenna replaces Tom Cairney.

62:08 Substitution

Substitution Reuben Noble-Lazarus on for David Cotterill.

62:08 Substitution

Substitution Joshua King comes on in place of Cameron Stewart.

62:08

Kallum Higginbotham has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Liam Cooper manages to make a clearance. Andy Gray challenges Richard Garcia unfairly and gives away a free kick.

61:18

Andy Dawson challenges Kallum Higginbotham unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Wiseman takes the direct free kick.

60:39

The ball is crossed by David Cotterill, James Chester makes a clearance.

60:31

David Cotterill produces a cross, James Chester makes a clearance.

59:18

The ball is swung over by Scott Wiseman, blocked by Andy Dawson. Corner taken by Kallum Higginbotham, Andy Dawson manages to make a clearance.

58:48

Stephen Dawson produces a cross, clearance made by Andy Dawson.

57:57

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Cotterill, clearance by Liam Cooper.

57:57 Substitution

Substitution Kallum Higginbotham comes on in place of Jim O'Brien.

57:29

The assistant referee flags for offside against Matt Fryatt. Nathan Doyle takes the free kick.

57:11

The ball is swung over by David Cotterill, Vito Mannone makes a save.

56:41

Tom Cairney concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Collins. Stephen Dawson takes the free kick.

55:23

The ball is crossed by Jim O'Brien, clearance made by Andy Dawson. Corner taken by David Perkins played to the near post, clearance made by Corry Evans. Jim O'Brien has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

55:07

Nathan Doyle takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Cooper.

52:40

The ball is crossed by Jim O'Brien, save by Vito Mannone.

51:02

Cameron Stewart gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Perkins. David Button takes the direct free kick.

47:30

Corner from the right by-line taken by David Perkins, Vito Mannone makes a save. Nathan Doyle produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

46:26

Craig Davies produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

45:13

David Perkins produces a cross, blocked by Liam Rosenior. Corner from the left by-line taken by Jim O'Brien, save made by Vito Mannone. Shot from just outside the box by Nathan Doyle goes over the bar.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Foster leaves the field to be replaced by Stephen Dawson.

45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:55

Matt Fryatt crosses the ball, save made by David Button.

45:00 +0:55

The ball is swung over by David Cotterill. The official flags Craig Davies offside. Vito Mannone takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:38

Cameron Stewart concedes a free kick for a foul on Jimmy McNulty. Direct free kick taken by Jimmy McNulty.

43:57

The assist for the goal came from Richard Garcia.

43:57 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Fryatt - Hull 2 - 0 Barnsley A goal is scored by Matt Fryatt from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Hull 2-0 Barnsley.

41:42

Liam Rosenior takes a shot. Save made by David Button.

40:01

Scott Wiseman sends in a cross, clearance by Liam Rosenior.

39:24

The ball is swung over by Jimmy McNulty, blocked by Liam Rosenior.

38:34

The ball is sent over by Jim O'Brien, Vito Mannone makes a save.

36:33

Assist by Cameron Stewart.

36:33 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Fryatt - Hull 1 - 0 Barnsley Matt Fryatt finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hull 1-0 Barnsley.

36:29

The ball is delivered by Cameron Stewart,

35:46

Cameron Stewart delivers the ball, Richard Garcia takes a shot. David Button makes a save.

35:18

Liam Rosenior crosses the ball, clearance by Lee Collins.

32:20

Andy Dawson crosses the ball, Richard Garcia takes a shot. Save by David Button.

32:20

The ball is swung over by Andy Dawson, Richard Garcia takes a shot. Save by David Button.

31:44

Direct free kick taken by Andy Dawson.

31:44 Booking

Booking Stephen Foster goes into the referee's book.

31:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Foster on Matt Fryatt.

31:18

A cross is delivered by David Cotterill, James Chester manages to make a clearance.

27:00

David Perkins concedes a free kick for a foul on Robert Koren. Tom Cairney produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, David Button makes a save. Matt Fryatt takes a shot. David Button makes a save.

25:29

The official flags Andy Gray offside. Vito Mannone takes the free kick.

25:06

Cameron Stewart takes a shot. David Button makes a save.

23:14

Unfair challenge on Richard Garcia by David Perkins results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Vito Mannone.

22:40

Foul by Richard Garcia on Jim O'Brien, free kick awarded. Nathan Doyle takes the free kick.

22:00

Shot by Craig Davies. Save by Vito Mannone.

21:34

David Perkins fouled by Tom Cairney, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nathan Doyle.

21:27

Scott Wiseman crosses the ball, Corry Evans makes a clearance.

17:02

Centre by David Cotterill, blocked by Andy Dawson. Corner taken by Jimmy McNulty from the right by-line, clearance made by Richard Garcia.

15:27

Effort from inside the penalty box by Corry Evans strikes the post.

14:28

Richard Garcia is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by David Button.

13:08

Craig Davies handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Tom Cairney takes the free kick.

12:32

Unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Robert Koren results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Foster.

11:35

Handball decision goes against Andy Gray. Direct free kick taken by Vito Mannone.

10:57

Liam Rosenior is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Lee Collins.

8:07

Short corner worked by Robert Koren.

7:28

A cross is delivered by Jimmy McNulty, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Craig Davies misses to the left of the goal.

5:49

Matt Fryatt takes a short corner.

4:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Cameron Stewart on Scott Wiseman. Free kick taken by David Button.

4:25

Matt Fryatt takes a shot. Save by David Button.

4:11

Foul by Scott Wiseman on Corry Evans, free kick awarded. Tom Cairney takes the direct free kick.

3:03

A cross is delivered by Craig Davies, Corry Evans gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Jimmy McNulty from the right by-line, Lee Collins takes a shot. Save made by Vito Mannone.

0:43

David Cotterill crosses the ball, clearance made by Andy Dawson.

0:29

Centre by Jimmy McNulty, Liam Cooper makes a clearance.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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