Match ends, Barnsley 2, Millwall 1.
BarnsleyBarnsley2MillwallMillwall1
Barnsley continued their march towards the Championship play-off places by making it five wins in a row with victory over Millwall.
The Tykes took the lead inside two minutes when Alex Mowatt's free-kick was not dealt with and Cauley Woodrow smashed home his 10th goal of the season.
But the lead was short-lived as Mason Bennett levelled for Millwall after six minutes following a swift counter-attack.
Barnsley defender Michal Helik grabbed the winner after 59 minutes, lashing a finely-struck volley past Lions goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Both sides came into the game in good form with Barnsley winning their past four and Millwall unbeaten in nine league games.
In a fast-paced opening it was not long before the Tykes were ahead. Mowatt floated a ball into the penalty area which fell kindly to Woodrow, who swivelled before firing past Bialkowski.
Barnsley's confidence was soaring but as they went in search of a second they left themselves open at the back and a fast break saw Bennett drive into space, before unleashing a left-footed shot across Bradley Collins, to equalise just four minutes after the opener.
Callum Styles, a goalscorer in Barnsley's midweek win over Stoke, had a chance to put the hosts back into the lead shortly before the break but sent his shot wide as the sides finished the half level.
Bennett went close to giving Millwall the lead after 55 minutes but his effort was saved by Tykes goalkeeper Collins, before Barnsley midfielder Mowatt tried his luck with a free-kick from 20 yards which beat the wall, but not the dive of Bialkowski.
But the Lions goalkeeper was beaten after 59 minutes when a long ball was headed-on by Mads Andersen to Helik, allowing the Polish defender to fire an unstoppable volley past his compatriot.
The lively Bennett was continuing to cause problems for the Tykes backline and found himself through on goal with 17 minutes remaining but put too much on his effort and it sailed over.
The victory sees Valerien Ismael's upwardly mobile side rise to seventh, just a point outside the play-off places, while Millwall drop a place to 12th.
Tykes boss Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"Congratulations to the guys. It was a big battle. We expected that sort of game against a strong side.
"We defended very well apart from the goal. We did better in the second half with more passion and more desire to win the duel. It's another win for team spirit. It's brilliant and is good for confidence.
"We need to recover now but it's a great feeling to reach 51 points in February. It's great to see the guys improve every week, never complain and try to go one step further. We know now we can beat anyone."
Lions manager Gary Rowett:
"I thought it was a very close game. I thought we were the better side in the first half and they were probably the better side in the second half.
"The first goal is offside. I'm not going to massively complain about it but it's a clear offside and I think the linesman should certainly be able to see that.
"They are really direct. They're probably the most direct side that I've seen in the Championship. They're good at it. It's the Championship and you don't always get what you deserve. We didn't play with enough quality and we didn't defend set-pieces."
Line-ups
Barnsley
Formation 3-4-3
- 40Collins
- 26SollbauerSubstituted forSibbickat 45'minutes
- 30Helik
- 6Andersen
- 7Brittain
- 21PalmerSubstituted forHalmeat 45'minutes
- 27Mowatt
- 4StylesSubstituted forWilliamsat 81'minutes
- 9WoodrowBooked at 89minsSubstituted forFrieserat 90+1'minutes
- 10DikeSubstituted forAdeboyejoat 75'minutes
- 14Morris
Substitutes
- 1Walton
- 2Williams
- 8Kane
- 11Chaplin
- 20Sibbick
- 22Oduor
- 24Halme
- 28Frieser
- 29Adeboyejo
Millwall
Formation 3-5-2
- 33Bialkowski
- 4Hutchinson
- 15PearceSubstituted forBödvarssonat 85'minutes
- 28Evans
- 12Romeo
- 8ThompsonSubstituted forSmithat 75'minutes
- 19WoodsBooked at 46mins
- 6WilliamsSubstituted forFergusonat 85'minutes
- 14Malone
- 7J WallaceSubstituted forBradshawat 90+2'minutes
- 20BennettSubstituted forBureyat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fielding
- 9Bradshaw
- 10Smith
- 11Ferguson
- 22Bödvarsson
- 23McNamara
- 24Mitchell
- 27Tiensia
- 32Burey
- Referee:
- Leigh Doughty
Match Stats
Home TeamBarnsleyAway TeamMillwall
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home10
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barnsley 2, Millwall 1.
Post update
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Shaun Hutchinson.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Tom Bradshaw replaces Jed Wallace.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Dominik Frieser replaces Cauley Woodrow.
Post update
Offside, Millwall. Matt Smith tries a through ball, but Jed Wallace is caught offside.
Booking
Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Woods (Millwall).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tyler Burey (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Malone with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Millwall. Shaun Hutchinson tries a through ball, but Matt Smith is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Shane Ferguson replaces Shaun Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson replaces Alex Pearce.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Tyler Burey replaces Mason Bennett.
Post update
Hand ball by Toby Peter Sibbick (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Jordan Williams replaces Callum Styles.
Post update
Foul by Carlton Morris (Barnsley).
Post update
Shaun Hutchinson (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Post update
Attempt saved. Carlton Morris (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alex Mowatt with a cross.
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