Barnsley slumped to a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Charlton at Oakwell, in a game that saw two Barnsley players sent off.
The defeat, Barnsley’s second in five games, leaves them in the bottom three with four games to go.
Charlton meanwhile are six points off the playoffs after the victory. It was their third win in their last four games.
Charlton took the lead after just 3 minutes at Oakwell through Bradley Pritchard. They doubled their advantage on 19 minutes when Johnnie Jackson netted from the edge of the penalty area.
Yann Kermorgant headed a third after 48 minutes before Stephen Dawson was sent off for lunging in late on Kermorgant.
Callum Harriott made it four for Charlton before substitute Salim Kerkar made it 5-0 on 79 minutes. Tom Kennedy was dismissed for Barnsley for denying Ricardo Fuller a clear goal-scoring opportunity before Fuller capped off Charlton’s win by scoring their sixth in injury time.
Pritchard got things going for Charlton by netting the rebound after Kermorgant’s shot was parried by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele.
Barnsley enjoyed some early spells of possession but failed to threaten the visitor’s backline.
Instead, Charlton were dangerous on the counter attack. Jackson, on a Charlton break, feigned two defenders before firing a powerful effort between Steele’s legs.
The goal sapped the life out of the home side. Jackson almost grabbed a second goal when his cross had to be tipped over by a scrambling Steele.
However, Barnsley brought on Jason Scotland off the bench on 24 minutes. The striker immediately played in Jacob Mellis, who saw his shot cleared off the Charlton goal-line.
Although Barnsley started the second half well and had a Chris Dagnall effort go wide, it was Charlton who added to their lead. Rhoys Wiggins’ delightful cross was met by an unchallenged Kermorgant at the back post who headed home for 3-0.
Harriott continued Charlton’s rout. The young striker hit a powerful effort from 20 yards out, which Luke Steele should have comfortably kept out however he let the ball slip under his body and in.
With the game beyond them, Barnsley’s fate went from bad to worse as Dawson was sent off. Referee Geoff Eltringham brandished the red card with little hesitation when Dawson went lunging in strongly on Kermorgant.
Ricardo Fuller linked up with fellow substitute Kerkar on 79 minutes for the Moroccan to add to the advantage. The midfielder thundered the ball past a helpless Steele.
Tom Kennedy’s dismissal for a desperate, professional foul on Fuller left Barnsley with nine for the final few minutes. During which, Fuller curled in a sixth for Charlton after Barnsley failed to clear their lines.
Source: DSG
