Barnsley got a much-needed win at home to ten man bottom club Yeovil Town on Saturday.

Yeovil centre-back Ben Nugent was sent off after 25 minutes when he clashed with Reds debutant George Waring, who then scored early in the second half. Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane then won and scored a penalty to secure the victory which put them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Manager Danny Wilson made four changes from the side that lost at home to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup seven days earlier. Jean Yves M'voto returned for the injured Lewin Nyatanga while new signings Waring, Ben Pearson and Alex Kiwomya made their debuts in place of Dale Jennings and Luke Berry – who dropped to the bench – and Kane Hemmings who was not in the squad.

Pearson played at the base of a diamond midfield with Paul Digby and Conor Hourihane wide and Kiwomya behind strikers Waring and Leroy Lita.

Lita sent a header straight at Yeovil 'keeper Jed Steer from a Hourihane free-kick while Jean Yves M'voto's error gave AJ Leitch a one-on-one opportunity which he put wide.

Nugent was sent off after a tangle with Waring midway through the first half. Wilson afterwards claimed the Yeovil man threw a punch while Town boss Gary Johnson said it was 'stupid' from his player. Leitch-Smith was therefore substituted for defender Alex Smith while, for Barnsley, Peter Ramage limped off and right-back George Williams came on, meaning Holgate moved to centre-back alongside M'voto. 

Hourihane fired a great chance wide when 12 yards out on the left side of the box before Waring and Digby both went close with headers.

The Reds – who changed to a flat 4-4-2 in the second half – eventually made the breakthrough on 50 minutes when Steer dropped Hourihane's cross while under pressure from Holgate and Waring tapped into the gaping net from six yards out.

The second goal came as a result of a superb move. Substitute Milan Lalkovic brilliantly beat two Yeovil players then threaded a fine pass through to Waring whose squared ball put Hourihane clean through. The Irishman was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Steer then got up to score the penalty and make it 12 goals for him this season.