Jon Stead netted twice in the first half as Town claimed their sixth away win of the season at Barnsley. The Blues dominated the opening period but conceded Daniel Bogdanovic's goal straight after the break, however, Jim Magilton's men saw out the rest of the game comfortably.

Town made three changes from the team which lost at Chelsea on Saturday. Alan Quinn, Kevin Lisbie and Jon Stead came in for Danny Haynes, Pablo Couñago and Owen Garvan, Jon Walters reverting to right midfield with Quinn in the centre and David Norris on the left.

Quinn wasn't far from opening the scoring in the first minute, hitting a shot just wide from Stead's lay-back from a Walters cross.

Town only had to wait until the eighth minute to go in front. David Norris received the ball from a corner and sent in a low cross which Kevin Lisbie laid back to Jon Stead, who beat Heinz Muller from 12 yards to score his first away goal of the season.

Two minutes later, it was two. Lisbie flicked the ball on into Stead's path, central defender Dennis Souza dallied, keeper Muller was slow to come off his line and the Town striker scraped the ball into the net for his ninth goal of 2008/09.

Former Town loanee Jon Macken hit a shot on the turn to Richard Wright, before Pim Balkestein struck an effort straight at Muller.

The Blues were well on top and playing some of their best football of the season. Stead passed on to Norris on the edge of the area in the 32nd minute but Muller saved the midfielder's strike. From the resultant corner, Gareth McAuley headed over.

On 40 Quinn sent a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, as the Blues continued to dominate. Just prior to the break, Tommy Miller's shot was saved.

Town, who had put in probably their best 45 minutes of the season, were given a standing ovation by the 447 travelling Blues, while Barnsley, who had looked woefully lacking in confidence and all over the place at the back, were booed off by their supporters.

Jim Magilton's men had passed the ball around slickly with Kevin Lisbie, Jon Stead and Jon Walters again combining well when Town were going forward, while David Norris, Alan Quinn and Tommy Miller chased and harried in midfield.

The home fans were in a cheerier mood two minutes into the second period when their side pulled a goal back. Again the Blues started the half slowly and after Jon Walters had cleared weakly, debutant Daniel Bogdanovic seized on the loose ball and beat Wright from just inside the area.

The Tykes threw everything at the Blues for the next few minutes, Wright saving a shot from the edge of the area by Bobby Hassell. However, the home side were unable to force the Town keeper into too many serious saves and Barnsley gradually started to lose their impetus. As against Palace, Town sat back, soaked up any pressure from the home side and counter-attacked.

Lisbie flicked Quinn's corner across the face of goal in the 59th minute, then Stead hit a shot at Muller from the edge of the area.

Pablo Couñago replaced Jon Walters for the final 11 minutes, Jon Stead moving to the right of midfield.

Bogdanovic hit a cross-shot just over, prior to Owen Garvan taking over from Stead, the Irishman moving to central midfield and Quinn to the right.

There were few scares for the Blues in the closing minutes and Quinn wasn't far off adding a third Town goal with a shot across the face of goal with a minute left on the clock.

In injury time, after one of the floodlights had gone out, Danny Haynes replaced Kevin Lisbie.

Another fine away win from the Blues, who played some of their best football of the season in the first half. In the second, after conceding a poor goal, their football was less free flowing, but again a solid back four, plus the excellent Richard Wright, were the basis for a counter-attacking display which could have yielded further goals.

Town are now up to 10th, just three points from the play-off places, with Plymouth at Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: R Wright, Bruce, D Wright, McAuley, Balkestein, Miller, Quinn, Norris, Walters (Couñago 79), Stead (Garvan 84), Lisbie (Haynes 90). Unused: Supple, Thatcher. Att: 11,189.

Photo: Action Images

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