Cauley Woodrow slotted his ninth goal of the season for Barnsley
Barnsley held off a fierce Rotherham United fightback to claim the South Yorkshire derby spoils and a fifth win in six matches.
Alex Mowatt's defence-splitting pass found Cauley Woodrow, who did not have to break stride to thread a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Callum Styles then gave Mowatt time to place a 20-yard shot beyond Millers goalkeeper Viktor Johansson into the right corner.
Michael Smith climbed highest in a crowded six-yard box to meet Dan Barlaser's corner with a back-header and halve the deficit, but Freddie Ladapo missed a glorious chance to equalise.
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Covid-19 cases had forced Rotherham to call off matches with Derby and Middlesbrough, with boss Paul Warne claiming only fears of a points deduction had prevented them from postponing a third straight league match.
Warne made four changes from the side which started their last fixture at Blackburn on 16 December, but the hosts began brightly as Kyle Vassell's half-volley forced a smart stop from keeper Jack Walton.
However, Barnsley were ruthless in attack as moments of precision and class from Mowatt and Woodrow twice opened up the hosts, with Woodrow's crossfield pass to Styles instrumental in the second goal.
With Mowatt pulling the strings from midfield, the Tykes played with the confidence of a side which has won six of their eight matches in December - all by 2-1 - setting a club record 18-point haul for the month.
The Millers improved after the break and, after former Barnsley loanee Smith scored for the third match running, Ladapo fired wide when one-one-one, while George Hirst narrowly failed to convert Ben Wiles' teasing low cross.
But Barnsley's defence gradually nullified the home threat as a third Yorkshire derby win of the month lifted Valerien Ismael's side up to eighth, two points outside the play-off spots, while Rotherham slipped to second-bottom after a ninth defeat from 12 matches.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsRotherham
- 1Johansson22Olosunde19Harding6WoodBooked at 77minsSubstituted forClarkeat 81'minutes20Ihiekwe8Wiles28JozefzoonSubstituted forSmithat 45'minutesBooked at 81mins26Barlaser16LindsayBooked at 69mins7VassellSubstituted forHirstat 65'minutes10Ladapo
Substitutes
- 5Thompson9Hirst14Miller18Clarke24Smith27Blackman
Barnsley
- 1Walton26SollbauerBooked at 56mins30Helik6Andersen7Brittain32JamesSubstituted forPalmerat 74'minutes27MowattSubstituted forMoonat 87'minutes4Styles29Adeboyejo9Woodrow28FrieserSubstituted forThomasat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Kane16Thomas18Christie-Davies19Schmidt21Palmer22Oduor25Miller31Kendrick34Moon
Referee:Steve MartinMatch StatsHome TeamRotherhamAway TeamBarnsleyPossessionHome52%Away48%ShotsHome10Away7Shots on TargetHome5Away3CornersHome5Away1FoulsHome14Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Rotherham United 1, Barnsley 2.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 1, Barnsley 2.
90'+4'Post update
Offside, Rotherham United. Ben Wiles tries a through ball, but Michael Smith is caught offside.
90'Post update
Foul by Romal Palmer (Barnsley).
90'Post update
Jamie Lindsay (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Styles with a cross.
88'Post update
Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Foul by Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham United).
87'Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Jasper Moon replaces Alex Mowatt.
87'Post update
Offside, Rotherham United. George Hirst tries a through ball, but Freddie Ladapo is caught offside.
85'Post update
Trevor Clarke (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Foul by Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley).
84'Post update
George Hirst (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84'Post update
Foul by Michael Sollbauer (Barnsley).
83'Post update
Attempt saved. Matthew Olosunde (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
83'Post update
Offside, Barnsley. Victor Adeboyejo tries a through ball, but Cauley Woodrow is caught offside.
82'Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Styles (Barnsley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Callum Brittain.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Trevor Clarke replaces Richard Wood.
81'Booking
Michael Smith (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
80'Post update
Foul by Michael Smith (Rotherham United).
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Source: bbc.com