REPORT | BARNSLEY 3 ARGYLE 0
Barnsley 3
Phillips 60
Anderson 77
Cadden 90
Argyle 0
Second-half goals from Adam Phillips, Mads Anderson and Nicky Cadden secured the points for Barnsley in another high-octane Sky Bet League One encounter.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher made three changes from the midweek win over Derby County, Jay Matete, Callum Wright and Mickel Miller coming in for Danny Mayor, Jordan Houghton and Joe Edwards.
The Tykes were looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games and the home side did hit the net inside three minutes, Herbie Kane lashing a sweet volley into the top corner, but Argyle were reprieved by an offside flag in the build up.
James Norwood scooped over Callum Burton’s crossbar after racing on to a long ball over the top, while the Pilgrims twice came close to releasing Ryan Hardie, who was looking to exploit a high line from the Barnsley defence.
The Greens did get to ask a question of home custodian Harry Isted on 12 minutes, moving the ball beautifully through midfield for Miller to fire in a dangerous cross at the near-post. The ball was met with the fists of Isted, landing back at Miller for a shot into the side-netting.
The game settled into a period of evenly-matched midfield sparring, with Matete and Matt Butcher more than holding their own against the Barnsley engine room. When Devante Cole did surge forward on the counter, Matete and Bali Mumba recovered brilliantly to suppress the danger.
While the first half ended goalless, the quality on display was plentiful and clearly two good teams performing with confidence. Argyle restarted with Hardie again playing on the last man and this time the flag stayed down, but Isted did a super job of smothering the ball.
Barnsley responded with a deflected effort from Cadden and a Phillips header both flying narrowly over. Kane did find the target but Burton read his intention and held on to the catch after diving to his left.
A misplaced pass in the Argyle defence then presented the ball to Luca Connell for a great chance on 18 yards but he thankfully steered the low drive wide of the post. Captain Joe Edwards emerged from the bench to replace Miller and, almost immediately, Argyle created space for a Wright effort blocked by Isted.
A delicious 20-yard volley from Butcher was then plucked out of the sky by Isted. Moments later, Barnsley were in front and it was a fine finish from Phillips, fizzing a 20-yard half-volley into the bottom corner.
As the temperature of the game rose a few more notches, Mayor and Niall Ennis replaced Hardie and James Wilson for Argyle, both entering a game where the tackles were flying in and a good, honest tussle at a crucial stage of the season.
A brilliantly-timed tackle from Nigel Lonwijk stopped the next Barnsley foray, as Jordan Houghton and Ben Waine came on for Matete and Finn Azaz.
Unfortunately for Argyle, neither man had a chance to make an impression before the Tyles doubled their lead. A deep curling cross from Bobby Thomas picked out the run of centre-back Anderson for a thumping header beyond Burton.
The Pilgrims have dug themselves out of numerous difficult positions this season but this was an almighty challenge playing away at a side in fantastic form. Brief hope came from a clever pass inside the full-back by Houghton, which created room for Waine to unleash a fierce drive beaten away by Isted.
This time, however, there was no way back for the Pilgrims, as Cadden wrapped up the points with a terrific curling free-kick in the last minute.
Barnsley: 1 Harry Isted; 2 Jordan Williams, 5 Liam Kitching, 6 Mads Andersen (capt), 7 Nicky Cadden, 8 Herbie Kane (16 Luke Thomas 84), 9 James Norwood (10 Josh Benson 72), 12 Bobby Thomas, 30 Adam Phillips (31 Slobodan Tedic 72), 44 Devante Cole (47 Max Watters H-T), 48 Luca Connell (3 Jon Russell 90). Substitutes (not used): 20 Jamie Searle (gk), 26 Ziyad Larkeche.
Booked: Connell 51
Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 3 Macaulay Gillesphey, 5 James Wilson (capt) (10 Danny Mayor 65), 7 Matt Butcher, 9 Ryan Hardie (11 Niall Ennis 65), 14 Mickel Miller (8 Joe Edwards 56), 17 Bali Mumba, 18 Finn Azaz (23 Ben Waine 74), 21 Nigel Lonwijk, 26 Callum Wright, 28 Jay Matete (4 Jordan Houghton 74). Substitutes (not used): 32 Adam Parkes (gk), 2 James Bolton.
Booked: Matete 43
Attendance:
Referee: Will Finnie