Craig Davies scored the winner as Barnsley earned a first home win since March by beating Middlesbrough.

Davies latched on to a ball from David Perkins before powering in a shot on the stroke of half-time.

Visiting keeper Jason Steele denied Davies on three occasions, while Stephen Foster and Jacob Mellis also went close for the home side.

Boro produced a late rally and had Emmanuel Ledesma shoot wide before Barnsley held on for the win.

The victory provided the Tykes with a win on the opening day of a campaign for the first time in seven years as well as a measure of revenge against a Boro side who did the double over them last season.

Boro have ambitions to challenge for promotion but will have to improve on a poor display to do so.

The visitors almost went behind when Foster headed over from a promising position early on before Davies deservedly put Barnsley ahead.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray made a triple substitution on the hour mark but the move had no impact as Barnsley continued to hold the upper hand.

The Tykes might have feared being punished for not extending their lead but ran out deserved winners.

Barnsley manager Keith Hill:

"The performance merited the result. We had opportunities to score more goals on the counter-attack.

"I am over the moon with the players' efforts and their pace. I would have been disappointed if we had lost that game.

"I expected Middlesbrough to give a bit more than they did but I still believe that they are one of the favourites to get a play-off place."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray:

"It was a frustrating day for us. We lost possession 20 yards from the goal and they worked the extra man well.

"When they scored they sat back, let us come at them and then counter-attacked.

"It's back to the drawing board but we will recover from this defeat."

Catch up with all the latest highlights from the Championship on the Football League Show

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Barnsley

  • 22 Gonzalez
  • 03 Golbourne
  • 06 Foster Booked
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 34 Stones
  • 10 Done (Etuhu - 17' )
  • 11 Perkins Booked
  • 19 Cywka
  • 21 Mellis (Dawson - 76' Booked )
  • 09 Davies
  • 16 Harewood

Substitutes

  • 30 Lidakevicius
  • 02 Hassell
  • 05 Collins
  • 07 Dawson
  • 17 Digby
  • 13 Dagnall
  • 23 Etuhu

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 04 Friend (Halliday - 60' )
  • 14 Williams Booked
  • 39 Woodgate
  • 07 Leadbitter
  • 10 Bailey Booked
  • 11 Ledesma
  • 20 Arca (Reach - 60' )
  • 38 Haroun (Zemmama - 60' )
  • 09 Emnes

Substitutes

  • 32 Leutwiler
  • 15 Hines
  • 25 Reach
  • 05 Zemmama
  • 18 Halliday
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 22 Williams
Ref: Adcock
Att: 12,203

Match Stats

Shots

16 12

On target

9 5

Corners

11 3

Fouls

9 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +11:47 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:59

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Grant Leadbitter.

90:00 +3:24

Craig Davies takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

90:00 +0:32

Nicky Bailey takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:32 Booking

Booking Caution for Stephen Dawson.

90:00 +0:23

Stephen Dawson challenges Emanuel Jorge Ledesma unfairly and gives away a free kick.

88:15

The referee blows for offside against Craig Davies. Free kick taken by Jonathan Woodgate.

87:51

Marlon Harewood takes a shot. Blocked by Rhys Williams.

87:09

David Perkins produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

85:40

Corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line, Merouane Zemmama takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Foster. Emanuel Jorge Ledesma has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

84:43

Andrew Halliday has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.

84:08

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma takes a shot. David Gonzalez makes a save.

82:47

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Scott Golbourne.

82:22

Craig Davies takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save.

81:38

Foul by Craig Davies on Jason Steele, free kick awarded. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

80:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma on Stephen Dawson. David Gonzalez takes the direct free kick.

79:59

Effort on goal by Marlon Harewood from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

79:44

Kelvin Etuhu takes a shot. Comfortable save by Jason Steele.

78:18

Shot from outside the area by Marvin Emnes misses to the left of the target.

76:38

Shot from just outside the box by Stephen Dawson goes over the target.

75:52 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Dawson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jacob Mellis.

75:24

Foul by Marlon Harewood on Andrew Halliday, free kick awarded. Rhys Williams restarts play with the free kick.

73:52

Scott Golbourne takes the inswinging corner, save by Jason Steele.

73:31

Craig Davies takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

71:39

The offside flag is raised against Emanuel Jorge Ledesma. Indirect free kick taken by David Gonzalez.

71:00

Effort from outside the area by Grant Leadbitter goes wide right of the goal.

69:12

Jonathan Woodgate takes the direct free kick.

69:12 Booking

Booking David Perkins goes into the referee's book.

69:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Perkins on Merouane Zemmama.

65:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tomasz Cywka by Andrew Halliday. Free kick taken by John Stones.

64:23

The referee blows for offside against Kelvin Etuhu. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.

63:49

Jacob Mellis takes a inswinging corner.

63:04

David Gonzalez takes the direct free kick.

63:04 Booking

Booking Booking for Nicky Bailey.

62:57

Foul by Nicky Bailey on Jacob Mellis, free kick awarded.

60:58

Corner taken by Grant Leadbitter, David Gonzalez makes a save.

59:06

Grant Leadbitter takes the free kick.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution Merouane Zemmama on for Faris Haroun.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution (Middlesbrough) makes a substitution, with Adam Reach coming on for Julio Arca.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Halliday comes on in place of George Friend.

59:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Perkins on Julio Arca.

58:16

Nicky Bailey takes a shot. David Gonzalez makes a save.

57:26

Jacob Mellis has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.

54:56

The assistant referee flags for offside against Marvin Emnes. John Stones takes the free kick.

52:21

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Scott Golbourne, Stephen Foster produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

51:22

Faris Haroun takes a shot. Scott Golbourne gets a block in.

50:18

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma concedes a free kick for a foul on David Perkins. Direct free kick taken by David Gonzalez.

48:34

Craig Davies takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +3:04 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

44:39

David Perkins provided the assist for the goal.

44:39 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Davies - Barnsley 1 - 0 Middlesbro Craig Davies grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Barnsley 1-0 Middlesbrough.

41:29

Grant Leadbitter produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

41:29 Booking

Booking Booking for Stephen Foster for unsporting behaviour.

41:14

Foul by Stephen Foster on Emanuel Jorge Ledesma, free kick awarded.

41:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tomasz Cywka on Emanuel Jorge Ledesma. Nicky Bailey restarts play with the free kick.

40:06

Scott Golbourne takes the inswinging corner, Nicky Bailey makes a clearance.

37:49

Faris Haroun gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Golbourne. Direct free kick taken by Scott Golbourne.

36:34

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jacob Mellis played to the near post, Nicky Bailey manages to make a clearance.

35:35

Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Craig Davies, blocked by Faris Haroun.

35:35 Booking

Booking The referee shows Rhys Williams a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

35:24

Rhys Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Davies.

33:43

Craig Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Woodgate. Jonathan Woodgate takes the direct free kick.

32:08

Unfair challenge on Scott Golbourne by Faris Haroun results in a free kick. Scott Golbourne takes the free kick.

31:32

Effort on goal by Tomasz Cywka from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

29:19

Craig Davies takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

25:24

Corner taken by Scott Golbourne, save by Jason Steele.

23:02

The assistant referee flags for offside against Marlon Harewood. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

21:22

The referee blows for offside. David Gonzalez takes the free kick.

18:10

The ball is delivered by Justin Hoyte, save made by David Gonzalez.

16:47 Substitution

Substitution Kelvin Etuhu replaces Matty Done.

15:51

Rhys Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Davies. Jacob Mellis crosses the ball, Header on goal by Stephen Foster from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

14:46

Corner taken right-footed by Jacob Mellis from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Nicky Bailey.

14:22

Jacob Mellis takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Nicky Bailey.

14:03

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jacob Mellis from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Rhys Williams.

13:20

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jacob Mellis played to the near post, clearance made by Rhys Williams.

11:18

Matty Done fouled by Faris Haroun, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jacob Mellis, Rhys Williams manages to make a clearance.

9:18

Craig Davies produces a cross.

4:57

Grant Leadbitter has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.

3:46

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. David Gonzalez makes a save.

2:47

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

2:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jacob Mellis on Julio Arca. Free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

0:00

The match begins.

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