Jermaine Beckford marked his return from injury by scoring the winner for Huddersfield at Barnsley and take Simon Grayson's side back into the top six.

Striker Beckford, starting his first game since last month's Millwall defeat, headed home a first-half cross from on-loan Simon Church.

Marlon Harewood had chances to snatch an equaliser for Barnsley.

The win means Huddersfield move up to sixth, while Barnsley are one place above the relegation zone.

Barnsley, looking to end a run of successive defeats, started brightly and had the first chance of the game after 15 minutes when Harewood headed just wide.

But despite enjoying plenty of possession, the home side found themselves behind nine minutes before the break.

Church, who joined Huddersfield on loan from Reading on Friday, delivered a pin-point cross into the area for Beckford, who directed a header into the top corner from six yards.

Barnsley almost offered an immediate response as Tomasz Cywka shot just over the crossbar, before Stephen Dawson's effort from distance was saved by Alex Smithies.

Dangerous Terriers

Huddersfield have gained an unrivalled 26 of their 27 Championship points from matches in which they have scored first

Both sides had chances after the break, with Keith Southern heading inches wide for Huddersfield, before Barnsley's Reuben Noble-Lazarus shot over the crossbar.

Harewood and then Jim O'Brien both dragged shots wide when well-placed for Barnsley during the closing stages, but Huddersfield held firm to record a fourth away win of the season.

Barnsley manager Keith Hill:

"It's not about the performance, it's about the result.

"Again, the performance was lacking penetration and I think it's obvious to everyone why we're not winning games and we're losing games.

"I just want to focus on one thing and it's definitely the result."

Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson:

"I think the keeper made some fantastic saves and at 1-0 you're always vulnerable.

"I'm delighted that we saw out in a professional manner a 1-0 victory.

"We limited Barnsley to very few opportunities which was obviously pleasing as well."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Barnsley

  • 01 Steele
  • 03 Golbourne
  • 06 Foster
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 25 Cranie
  • 34 Stones
  • 07 Dawson (Noble-Lazarus - 68' )
  • 19 Cywka (O'Brien - 68' )
  • 21 Mellis
  • 16 Harewood
  • 23 Etuhu (Mido - 63' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 12 Alnwick
  • 02 Hassell
  • 15 McNulty
  • 08 O'Brien
  • 13 Dagnall
  • 18 Mido
  • 24 Noble-Lazarus

Huddersfield

  • 01 Smithies Booked
  • 03 Dixon
  • 05 P Clarke
  • 32 Hunt
  • 33 Lynch
  • 08 Clayton
  • 24 Southern
  • 07 Scannell
  • 09 Novak (Lee - 86' )
  • 20 Church Booked
  • 21 Beckford (Ward - 59' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bennett
  • 02 Woods
  • 06 Gerrard
  • 04 Norwood
  • 11 Ward
  • 14 Hammill
  • 19 Lee
Ref: Haywood
Att: 12,130

Match Stats

Shots

9 9

On target

2 5

Corners

4 10

Fouls

6 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:14 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +4:57

The referee blows for offside against Adam Clayton. John Stones restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +3:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Stones on Alan Lee. Daniel Ward takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Hunt on John Stones. Direct free kick taken by Scott Golbourne.

89:16

Paul Dixon is ruled offside. John Stones takes the direct free kick.

87:16

Effort from deep inside the area by Jim O'Brien clears the bar.

86:36

Sean Scannell is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Luke Steele.

86:14

Foul by Marlon Harewood on Daniel Ward, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Daniel Ward.

85:27 Substitution

Substitution Alan Lee on for Lee Novak.

85:08

Effort from deep inside the area by Marlon Harewood misses to the right of the target.

84:06

Foul by Lee Novak on Stephen Foster, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by John Stones from right channel, clearance by Adam Clayton.

82:11

Paul Dixon takes a shot. Luke Steele makes a save.

80:45

Daniel Ward fouled by Jim O'Brien, the ref awards a free kick. Joel Lynch takes the free kick.

78:23

Daniel Ward takes the outswinging corner, clearance by John Stones.

76:06

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Ward, clearance made by Stephen Foster.

75:41

Corner taken left-footed by Daniel Ward from the left by-line to the near post, Jacob Mellis makes a clearance.

75:27

Simon Church takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.

73:10

Corner taken by Jacob Mellis, clearance by Joel Lynch.

70:11

Shot from just outside the box by Reuben Noble-Lazarus goes over the target.

67:38 Substitution

Substitution Reuben Noble-Lazarus is brought on as a substitute for Stephen Dawson.

67:38 Substitution

Substitution Jim O'Brien joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tomasz Cywka.

64:22

Inswinging corner taken by Daniel Ward from the right by-line played to the near post, Header by Joel Lynch from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

63:28 Booking

Booking Mido booked for unsporting behaviour.

63:23

Foul by Mido on Sean Scannell, free kick awarded. Adam Clayton restarts play with the free kick.

62:09 Substitution

Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Mido coming on for Kelvin Etuhu.

61:18

Corner from the right by-line taken by Daniel Ward, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Keith Southern misses to the left of the goal.

61:00

Lee Novak takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.

58:58 Substitution

Substitution Jermaine Beckford leaves the field to be replaced by Daniel Ward.

55:33

John Stones produces a cross, clearance made by Peter Clarke.

53:11

Kelvin Etuhu fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

53:11 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Simon Church for unsporting behaviour.

52:53

Foul by Simon Church on Scott Golbourne, free kick awarded.

49:57

Stephen Dawson fouled by Sean Scannell, the ref awards a free kick. John Stones restarts play with the free kick.

46:07

Simon Church takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +4:13 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:09

The referee blows for offside. Alex Smithies restarts play with the free kick.

43:18

The official flags Jermaine Beckford offside. Direct free kick taken by Luke Steele.

42:03

Jacob Mellis concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Clayton. Joel Lynch takes the free kick.

40:13

Stephen Dawson takes a shot. Comfortable save by Alex Smithies.

39:28

Tomasz Cywka produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

37:21

Corner taken by Adam Clayton from the right by-line, save made by Luke Steele.

35:36

Assist on the goal came from Simon Church.

35:36

The assist for the goal came from Simon Church.

35:36 Goal scored

Goal - Jermaine Beckford - Barnsley 0 - 1 Huddersfld Jermaine Beckford finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Barnsley 0-1 Huddersfield.

34:22

Effort from outside the penalty box by Sean Scannell goes wide right of the goal.

33:38

Stephen Dawson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Dixon. Adam Clayton delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by Scott Golbourne.

25:51

Corner taken right-footed by John Stones.

25:05

The ball is delivered by Adam Clayton, Luke Steele makes a save.

24:08

Corner taken by Adam Clayton from the right by-line, Martin Cranie makes a clearance.

23:00

Marlon Harewood takes a shot. Comfortable save by Alex Smithies.

21:55

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Clayton, clearance by Martin Cranie.

20:30

Jacob Mellis takes the inswinging corner, comfortable save by Alex Smithies.

19:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marlon Harewood by Peter Clarke. Stephen Foster restarts play with the free kick.

14:42

Outswinging corner taken by Jacob Mellis from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Marlon Harewood misses to the right of the goal.

14:10

Kelvin Etuhu crosses the ball, Peter Clarke manages to make a clearance.

11:46

Jacob Mellis takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand post.

10:28

Jacob Mellis crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Joel Lynch.

10:28 Booking

Booking Alex Smithies receives a yellow card.

10:17

Alex Smithies is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick.

6:07

Unfair challenge on Scott Golbourne by Keith Southern results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Wiseman.

3:41

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Adam Clayton, Stephen Dawson manages to make a clearance.

2:59

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Clayton played to the near post, clearance made by Martin Cranie.

2:38

Simon Church takes a shot.

2:20

The referee blows for offside. Peter Clarke takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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