Hugo Colace's first-half strike settled a tempestuous South Yorkshire derby that saw Barnsley overcome local rivals Sheffield United at Oakwell.
Barnsley threatened through Adam Hammill and Nathan Doyle, while United's Andy Taylor missed from range.
Jim O'Brien lashed over from the edge of the box but made amends with a superb cross that Colace smashed home.
Hammill and Bobby Hassell went close to adding a second before Barnsley survived a late rally from the Blades.
It meant the Tykes, in the midst of their best run for a year now unbeaten in five Championship matches, moved into 10th - seven points above United.
But for the Blades it leaves them perilously close to the bottom of the table just one point above the relegation zone.
Barnsley looked indomitable throughout and were rarely under threat from their south Yorkshire neighbours, whose manager Gary Speed is subject of rife speculation linking him with the vacant Wales job.
Both sides attacked with intent from the offset but the first real chance came from a set-piece, with Hammill whipping a 25-yard free kick just over the bar.
The former Liverpool trainee's effort spurred Barnsley into life, with a goal-bound drive from Doyle smartly blocked by United defender Kyle Bartley soon after.
Barnsley continued to run proceedings but the visitors almost capitalised on their inability to break the deadlock, Taylor's audacious long-range effort narrowly off target.
The home side had their own daring effort from distance on the half-hour mark as O'Brien turned smartly before firing over from the edge of the box.
O'Brien then turned provider with a fine right-wing centre, Colace finishing emphatically from close range.
With the first half having petered out, the Blades' hopes of responding after the restart received an early blow when former England goalkeeper Richard Wright saw his Blades debut curtailed by injury.
Steve Simonsen came on to replace the 33-year-old and was quickly forced into action, preventing Hammill from extending the home side's lead.
Minutes later Simonsen again did well, this time palming wide a rasping drive from left-back Hassell as the Tykes looked to double their advantage.
The home side continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack as the Blades pressed forward in search of a much-needed equaliser.
But despite the raucous support of the 2,003 visiting fans, an equaliser proved elusive as Barnsley's resolute defence held off United's barrage at the death.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Barnsley
1-0
Sheff Utd
FT
(HT 1-0)
Colace 37
Barnsley
01 Steele
02 Hassell
04 Shackell
06 Foster
15 Trippier yellow card
05 Doyle
08 O'Brien
10 Lovre (Hayes 90)
14 Hammill
20 Colace yellow card
36 O'Connor yellow card
Substitutes
12 Preece,
19 Butterfield,
23 Arismendi,
09 Hayes,
18 Neumann,
27 Gray,
30 Bennett
Sheff Utd
29 Wright (Simonsen 52)
03 Nosworthy yellow card
06 Ertl (Lowton 64 yellow card)
12 Calve (Ward 75)
16 Taylor
23 Bartley
04 Montgomery
08 Britton
11 Yeates yellow card
24 Reid
09 Evans
Substitutes
01 Simonsen,
22 Kozluk,
25 Batth,
34 Lowton,
28 Quinn,
18 Ward,
35 Slew
Ref: JonesAtt: 12,976
BARNSLEY
SHEFF UTD
Possession
Barnsley48%
Sheff Utd52%
Attempts on target
Barnsley6
Sheff Utd3
Attempts off target
Barnsley4
Sheff Utd6
Corners
Barnsley5
Sheff Utd8
Fouls
Barnsley14
Sheff Utd17
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:48 The referee ends the match.
90:00+4:10 Shot by Andy Reid from outside the box goes over the net.
90:00+2:40 Mark Yeates takes a corner.
90:00+1:44 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Andy Reid, Kieran Trippier manages to make a clearance.
90:00+1:32 Mark Yeates takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.
89:53 Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Paul Hayes coming on for Goran Lovre.
89:34 Foul by Jim O'Brien on Nyron Nosworthy, free kick awarded. Steve Simonsen takes the direct free kick.
87:29 Goran Lovre is ruled offside. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.
87:14 Garry O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
86:14 Unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Andy Taylor results in a free kick. Kieran Trippier restarts play with the free kick.
85:44 Goran Lovre fouled by Nyron Nosworthy, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Shackell takes the direct free kick.
85:44 Booking Nyron Nosworthy receives a yellow card.
84:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ched Evans on Jason Shackell. Luke Steele takes the direct free kick.
81:00 Matthew Lowton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Hammill. Bobby Hassell delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Kyle Bartley manages to make a clearance.
81:00 Booking Matthew Lowton goes into the referee's book.
79:30 Unfair challenge on Bobby Hassell by Andy Reid results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Bobby Hassell.
77:44 Ched Evans fouled by Nathan Doyle, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Reid crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Luke Steele.
76:47 Jim O'Brien produces a cross, clearance by Kyle Bartley.
74:48 Substitution Jamie Ward on for Jean Calve.
73:52 Shot from just outside the box by Jim O'Brien goes over the bar.
72:38 Unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Mark Yeates results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Nathan Doyle from right channel.
72:38 Booking Mark Yeates goes into the referee's book.
71:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Andy Taylor. Free kick crossed by Kieran Trippier, clearance by Andy Taylor.
64:39 Unfair challenge on Nick Montgomery by Nathan Doyle results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andy Reid from left wing, save by Luke Steele.
63:08 Substitution Johnny Ertl goes off and Matthew Lowton comes on.
62:58 The referee blows for offside against Garry O'Connor. Direct free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
62:41 Shot by Bobby Hassell. Jean Calve makes a save.
61:23 Nathan Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Leon Britton. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Andy Reid, save by Luke Steele.
59:42 Ched Evans produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
59:20 Short corner worked by Mark Yeates.
58:07 Adam Hammill takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Goran Lovre produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
57:44 Adam Hammill takes a shot. Save by Jean Calve.
56:36 Corner from the right by-line taken by Andy Reid, clearance made by Goran Lovre.
53:41 Jason Shackell challenges Johnny Ertl unfairly and gives away a free kick. Johnny Ertl delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
51:51 Substitution Steve Simonsen replaces Richard Wright.
51:06 Corner taken by Adam Hammill, Jean Calve manages to make a clearance.
49:22 Corner taken by Adam Hammill from the left by-line to the near post, Jason Shackell concedes a free kick for a foul on Johnny Ertl. Free kick taken by Richard Wright.
48:41 Nyron Nosworthy concedes a free kick for a foul on Garry O'Connor. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Adam Hammill from right channel.
48:41 Booking Booking for Garry O'Connor for dissent.
47:49 Ched Evans is caught offside. Luke Steele takes the direct free kick.
46:12 Jason Shackell fouled by Ched Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Luke Steele.
45:24 Corner taken by Andy Reid from the right by-line played to the near post, Jason Shackell makes a clearance.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:10 The players leave the pitch at half time.
44:06 Hugo Colace challenges Johnny Ertl unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Taylor.
44:06 Booking The referee cautions Hugo Colace for unsporting behaviour.
43:23 Adam Hammill takes a shot. Save made by Richard Wright.
42:53 Nick Montgomery concedes a free kick for a foul on Bobby Hassell. Direct free kick taken by Bobby Hassell.
39:24 Mark Yeates takes a shot.
37:57 Nathan Doyle is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Richard Wright.
36:10 The assist for the goal came from Jim O'Brien.
36:10 GOAL - Hugo Colace:Barnsley 1 - 0 Sheff Utd Hugo Colace fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Barnsley 1-0 Sheff Utd.
35:08 Effort on goal by Mark Yeates from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
33:35 Foul by Jim O'Brien on Leon Britton, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Andy Taylor.
32:34 Johnny Ertl gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jason Shackell. Free kick taken by Luke Steele.
30:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kieran Trippier on Mark Yeates. Andy Reid delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance made by Jason Shackell.
30:34 Booking The referee books Kieran Trippier for dissent.
29:11 Shot from just outside the box by Jim O'Brien goes over the crossbar.
28:47 Outswinging corner taken by Adam Hammill, Johnny Ertl makes a clearance.
28:38 The ball is sent over by Kieran Trippier, Nyron Nosworthy makes a clearance.
26:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Garry O'Connor by Andy Taylor. Direct free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.
24:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kieran Trippier on Mark Yeates. Mark Yeates has an effort direct from the free kick, Jim O'Brien gets a block in.
23:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Hugo Colace on Leon Britton. Nyron Nosworthy restarts play with the free kick.
22:24 Effort on goal by Ched Evans from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
21:55 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jim O'Brien. Richard Wright restarts play with the free kick.
20:59 Shot from outside the area by Andy Taylor misses to the left of the target.
20:10 Unfair challenge on Andy Reid by Jason Shackell results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Reid from right wing.
17:40 Andy Reid delivers the ball, clearance by Jason Shackell.
17:28 Mark Yeates decides to take the corner short.
16:00 Jean Calve gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien. Adam Hammill crosses the ball in from the free kick, Nyron Nosworthy makes a clearance.
15:31 Adam Hammill decides to take the corner short.
14:23 Nathan Doyle takes a shot. Kyle Bartley gets a block in.
14:13 The ball is swung over by Kieran Trippier, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.
13:57 The ball is delivered by Adam Hammill, clearance made by Andy Reid.
12:50 The offside flag is raised against Goran Lovre. Direct free kick taken by Richard Wright.
12:14 Unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Andy Taylor results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Kieran Trippier from right wing.
11:48 Mark Yeates takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.
11:34 Mark Yeates decides to take the corner short.
10:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ched Evans by Stephen Foster. Direct free kick taken by Andy Taylor.
10:27 Unfair challenge on Hugo Colace by Andy Reid results in a free kick. Bobby Hassell takes the free kick.
8:34 Nick Montgomery gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Goran Lovre. Adam Hammill shoots direct from the free kick.
7:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nick Montgomery on Jason Shackell. Luke Steele restarts play with the free kick.
6:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Doyle on Andy Reid. Andy Reid delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.
3:41 Jim O'Brien is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Richard Wright restarts play with the free kick.
1:54 Corner taken by Mark Yeates from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Jason Shackell.
0:00 The game begins.
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