Barnsley 2-0 Blackburn: Home win for Tykes

Barnsley claimed their first Boxing Day win in six years with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Blackburn at Oakwell.

Goals from Sam Winnall and Marley Watkins were enough to lift Barnsley into ninth in the Sky Bet Championship.

The home side started brightly and the first chance fell to Tom Bradshaw. The striker found space inside the box, but his shot on the turn sailed over the bar.

Top scorer Winnall headed the Tykes in front in the 14th minute, beating the offside trap to nod Conor Hourihane's cross home from eight yards.

Danny Graham had Rovers' first chance after 20 minutes, stretching for Marvin Emnes' shot across the box. The striker got on the end of it but could only turn the ball wide of the post.

Rovers' top scorer Sam Gallagher should have pulled his side level, but after good build-up play in the final third, he shot straight at Davies.

The second period started with Rovers on the attack and Barnsley looking to hit them on the break. This style of play created a pair of two-on-one chances for the Tykes early in the half. First Hourihane's pass was too heavy for Bradshaw before the Irishman had a breakaway chance of his own, curling a shot narrowly over from 10 yards out.

Blackburn had Darragh Lenihan sent off with four minutes to go after the midfielder was given a straight red card for a late lunge on Sam Morsy. Gallagher was then denied an equaliser by Davies who stood tall to block the striker's shot from the left side of the box.

Substitute Watkins sealed victory for Barnsley in the third minute of added time, though, calmly slotting past Steele from close range, rounding off a quick counter-attack.

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom:

"I'm delighted with the win. The scoreline flattered us a little bit and we made the game a bit harder than it should have been.

"I think Blackburn are in a bit of a false position. But I thought when we did play well and provide bits of quality we looked a threat. I thought we were good value for the win, but we weren't at our best."

Blackburn boss Owen Coyle:

"They scored a good first goal and from our perspective it was certainly defendable. We've got to be touch-tight in the box.

"From that point on I thought we went on to dominate and create chance after chance. The keeper made some wonderful saves. But with the quality we have in the forward area we need to be more clinical."