Barnsley crushed Rochdale 5-0 to finish 11th in the League One table end a run of nine games without a win.
Dale, managed by former Reds boss Keith Hill, had midfielder Joe Rafferty sent off for a second yellow card just after the break then Barnsley scored five in the final 25 minutes.
Josh Scowen headed home in the 68th and 76th minute before Mason Holgate got the first of his career on 84. Conor Hourihane corners provided the assist for the first three goals and the Irishman eventually got the fourth when young substitute Rhys Oates unselfishly squared and he tapped into the empty net. Sam Winnall completed the route in the 95th minute when he headed home a cross by teenage left-back George Smith.
George Maris made his first start while James Bree returned to the side as did Winnall and Smith after recovering from injury. The injured Jabo Ibehre dropped out of the squad as did fellow loanee Declan John while Paul Digby and Martin Cranie dropped to the bench.
Maris' clever chipped pass put Pearson through but he volleyed a great chance well wide then Winnall headed a Hourihane corner off-target and Luke Berry nodded Bree's cross into the arms of visiting goalkeeper Josh Lillis. At the other end, home goalkeeper Adam Davies denied Ian Henderson after a bad slip by Lewin Nyatanga who then deflected over a free-kick from ex-Red Reuben Noble-Lazarus.
Davies made a decent save from a Peter Vincenti header early in the second half seconds before Rafferty received his second yellow card and was dismissed.
Davies had to make another one-on-one save to deny Jamie Allen before the Reds ran riot in the final quarter of the match with the five goals. Winnall also had a goal ruled out for offside and sent a decent headed opportunity wide. He finished on 13 goals for the season, one behind player of the season Hourihane.
