Dominic Solanke scored his sixth Championship goal of the season
Bournemouth moved to the top of the Championship as two goals in each half saw them ruthlessly defeat Barnsley.
In an open game with several chances at both ends, the Cherries led when Philip Billing found the bottom corner with a low strike from 20 yards.
The hosts should have levelled, but defender Mads Andersen could not sort out his feet in time to divert Michal Helik's effort in from two yards, and were punished as Dominic Solanke doubled Bournemouth's lead with a run and near-post finish on the stroke of half-time.
Diego Rico made it 3-0 with a fine free-kick which caught out Barnsley keeper Jack Walton - who expected a cross - with Sam Surridge capitalising on an error to complete the scoring with a shot that Walton should have kept out.
Victory moves Jason Tindall's side two points clear of Norwich, who will regain top spot if they beat Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
- Relive Bournemouth's victory at Barnsley
Barnsley, meanwhile, drop a place to 15th as their goal difference took a dent at Oakwell against a Bournemouth side displaying the clinical edge they lacked in the Premier League last season.
The Cherries should have led in the opening minute but Surridge shot wide with an open goal, albeit at an angle, after beating the onrushing Walton to a ball into the channel.
Alex Mowatt forced Asmir Begovic into a decent save from range as the Tykes carried a threat, but they gave Denmark midfielder Billing too much space to pick his spot for the opener after Adam Smith had carried the ball forward for the visitors.
In many ways Valerien Ismael's Barnsley were architects of their own downfall - striker Cauley Woodrow gave the ball away in his own half for Solanke's well-taken second, Andersen conceded a needless free-kick which led to Bournemouth's third and Herbie Kane inexplicably played in Surridge with a wayward pass which was also duly punished.
A Woodrow snapshot was tipped wide by Begovic and Luke Thomas curled wide as the home side threatened from outside the box in the second half but Bournemouth - now the Championship's joint leading scorers with 29 goals alongside Blackburn - kept their first away clean sheet since winning 1-0 at Chelsea in December 2019.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBarnsley
- 1Walton26SollbauerBooked at 85mins30HelikSubstituted forHalmeat 64'minutes6AndersenBooked at 76mins7Brittain8KaneSubstituted forPalmerat 83'minutes27Mowatt4StylesSubstituted forOduorat 58'minutes29AdeboyejoSubstituted forThomasat 58'minutes11ChaplinSubstituted forFrieserat 58'minutes9WoodrowBooked at 32mins
Substitutes
- 16Thomas19Schmidt21Palmer22Oduor24Halme25Miller28Frieser32James40Collins
Bournemouth
- 1Begovic6Mepham3S Cook5Kelly15A SmithSubstituted forKilkennyat 90'minutes29BillingSubstituted forOfoborhat 90'minutes16L CookSubstituted forRiquelmeat 81'minutes7BrooksSubstituted forGoslingat 72'minutes21Rico9SolankeSubstituted forAnthonyat 73'minutes14Surridge
Substitutes
- 4Gosling19Stanislas20Riquelme23Travers24Ofoborh25Simpson26Kilkenny32Anthony33Zemura
Referee:Keith StroudMatch StatsHome TeamBarnsleyAway TeamBournemouthPossessionHome47%Away53%ShotsHome10Away11Shots on TargetHome4Away6CornersHome3Away4FoulsHome14Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Barnsley 0, Bournemouth 4.
90'+3'Full Time
Second Half ends, Barnsley 0, Bournemouth 4.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Nnamdi Ofoborh replaces Philip Billing.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Gavin Kilkenny replaces Adam Smith.
89'Post update
Attempt blocked. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
87'Post update
Foul by Chris Mepham (Bournemouth).
87'Post update
Romal Palmer (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86'Post update
Foul by Diego Rico (Bournemouth).
86'Post update
Dominik Frieser (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
85'Booking
Michael Sollbauer (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85'Post update
Sam Surridge (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85'Post update
Foul by Michael Sollbauer (Barnsley).
83'Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Brittain.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Romal Palmer replaces Herbie Kane.
82'Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Jack Walton.
82'Post update
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Riquelme (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adam Smith.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Rodrigo Riquelme replaces Lewis Cook.
78'Post update
Dan Gosling (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78'Post update
Foul by Luke Thomas (Barnsley).
77'Post update
Foul by Chris Mepham (Bournemouth).
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Source: bbc.com