Barnsley 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
MIck McCarthy endured a second successive miserable return to his hometown as Wolverhampton Wanderers' impressive run came to a dismal end.
For the second successive season, McCarthy's team never got into their stride at Oakwell and the loss of their first goal in over nine hours of football proved decisive. Istvan Ferenczi notched Barnsley's winner shortly after half-time, with Wolves wasting a glorious chance to equalise when Andy Keogh missed a penalty immediately afterwards.
Keogh's return was one of several changes made by McCarthy to try to combat fatigue during the current exhausting run of fixtures. Freddy Eastwood and Stephen Elliott both dropped to the bench and Keogh returned upfront alongside Stephen Ward, who was pushed in from the left.
Matt Jarvis came in for his first start in Ward's left-wing berth and Darren Potter returned at the expense of Darron Gibson. But during a first half in which Barnsley always looked the more dangerous, it was Wolves' defence and, in particular, Wayne Hennessey, who had to be on their guard.
Hennessey's most spectacular effort came just before the break as he leapt to tip a powerful Dominik Werling free-kick over the bar, but he had already been in action several times. The lively James Campbell-Ryce had been denied in the 15th minute while Hennessey was also forced into a well-positioned save from a Ferenczi header.
Wolves, in keeping with recent form, struggled to mount any sort of sustained attack, with their only real chance of the first period coming just before the break as Keogh failed to get enough on a header from Karl Henry's free-kick.
Within just three minutes of the re-start, Henry's attempted headed clearance from a Campbell-Ryce cross fell straight to Ferenczi, who had the easiest of chances from just two yards out.
Yet despite the disappointment of conceding their first goal in over nine hours, Wolves could have responded immediately when awarded a penalty after Lewin Nyatanga felled Ellliott in the penalty area.
Keogh stepped up in the hope of levelling the scores but saw his low effort comfortably beaten away by goalkeeper Heinz Muller.
Anderson De Silva sliced a shot over the bar and it wasn't until the closing stages that Wolves threatened any sort of an equaliser. But efforts from Henry and Gibson both flashed wide and Seyi Olofinjana's cross-shot was clawed away by Muller.
Barnsley held on to celebrate a crucial win, with their excellent home form meaning they have now not been beaten on home soil since the opening day of the season.
Given that it was only his side's second defeat in 14 games, a bemused and angered McCarthy will be hoping this turns out to be nothing more than a bad day at the office.
Scorer: Ferenczi (48).
BARNSLEY: Muller; Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling; Campbell-Ryce, Howard, De Silva, Devaney (Togwell, 70); Ferenczi (Christensen, 90), Macken (Mostto, 89). Subs: Reid, McCann.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Hennessey; Foley, D Ward, N Collins, Gray; Potter (Gibson, 57), Olofinjana, Henry, Jarvis (Elliott, 45); Keogh, S Ward. Subs: Ikeme, Edwards.
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).
Bookings: Wolves - Potter, Gibson, Henry (fouls).
Attendance: 9,956.
Wolves man of the match: Not many contenders, but Wayne Hennessey kept his team in the hunt.
