Barnsley survived a late fightback from Burnley before running out 3-2 winners at Oakwell on Monday night.
Late comeback not enough for Burnley
Barnsley survived a late fightback from Burnley before running out 3-2 winners at Oakwell on Monday night.
The home side raced into a three-goal lead thanks to goals from Jon Macken, Simon Whaley, and Diego Leon.
However, Burnley refused to lie down and substitute Martin Paterson pulled back two goals with a quick-fire brace.
Burnley laid siege to the Barnsley goal in the closing stages, but the hosts held on for all three points as Owen Coyle's men missed out on the chance to go fourth.
Barnsley should have taken the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Rob Kozluk delivered a huge throw-in into the Burnley box.
Tykes frontman Kayode Odejayi rose above two Burnley defenders and only a fine save from goalkeeper Brian Jensen denied Macken the opener.
Opener
The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when Kozluk produced an inch-perfect ball over the top of a static Clarets defence.
And they could do nothing but watch as Macken raced towards goal and after shaping to curl the ball into the far corner of Jensen's goal, smashed home at the near post.
And the home side should have had a second goal when Odejayi outmuscled Clark Carlisle.
With only the goalkeeper to beat Jensen produced another superb stop to keep the score 1-0.
Whaley gave Barnsley a two-goal cushion in the 48th minute - but in dubious circumstances.
Controversial
Jamal Campbell-Ryce picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the Burnley defence - but his goalbound shot came of Whaley and flew past a helpless Jensen.
Despite the protests of several Burnley players who claimed Whaley was offside, the referee ruled the goal should stand.
And it was 3-0 in the 50th minute when the ball fell kindly for Leon following a Campbell-Ryce corner which the Clarets defence allowed to roll across the edge of the box.
Leon smashed the ball towards goal and a deflection once again left Jensen wrong-footed and unable to prevent the ball hitting the back of the net.
Paterson started the visitors' revival in the 68th minute when he slotted the ball under the advancing Muller, having received the ball from Robbie Blake.
And it was 3-2 17 minutes from time when Patterson rounded off a mazy run with a neat finish.
Muller pushed a McCann thunderbolt over his crossbar and also denied Eagles what looked a certain goal late on, while substitute Kevin McDonald filed over - but the home side hung on for the win.
