Istvan Ferenczi - On target again.

BARNSLEY 1 (Ferenczi 45)
NORWICH CITY 3 (Huckerby 7, Croft 26, Martin 41)

BARNSLEY threw everything at NorwichCity but only had Istvan Ferenczi's first half strike to show for their efforts after gifting the visitors a three goal lead.

Reds boss Simon Davey made just the one change from the side that beat Stoke City last time out with Bobby Hassell returning at right back. Neil Austin dropped to the bench.

Barnsley started strongly with Hassell finding Istvan Ferenczi in the area with just four minutes on the clock. The big Hungarian did well to get his head to the ball but Gary Doherty somehow managed to divert it through to debutant Tony Warner.

Norwich grabbed the lead against the run of play on seven minutes with a goal of real quality from Darren Huckerby. The Canaries star managed to beat the Reds defence before cutting in from the right flank and unleashing an unstoppable drive into the far top corner.

Barnsley's response was almost instant as Paul Heckingbottom swung a great free kick into the area on nine minutes and Peter Rajczi managed to get something on the ball but Warner was in the right place to make a save.

The Reds came again two minutes later as Martin Devaney's cross caused problems in the Norwich area but Ferenczi and Grant McCann could only fire efforts against Canaries defenders under pressure.

Barnsley should have had a penalty on 15 minutes a Rajczi was almost dragged from the ball by Doherty as the pair went for McCann's cross but the referee amazingly waved away the Hungarian's protests. It would have been a free kick anywhere else on the park.

McCann then showed great composure and skill to turn his way onto Brian Howard's pass on 18 minutes and managed to get a fine effort on goal but Warner managed to turn his shot away for a corner.

Lee Croft then angered the home faithful on 22 minutes with an embarrassing dive in a vain bid to win a free after realising there was no way past Lewin Nyatanga but the referee rightly waved him back to his feet.

Rajczi almost took advantage of a slip by Warner on 23 minutes as the striker pounced onto a poor clearance before shooting an inch wide of the post.

The Hungarian was sent to the ground again by Doherty in the area seconds later as the Norwich defender made no attempt to play the ball but again the referee gave nothing.

Norwich grabbed a totally underserved second goal on 26 minutes as Mark Fotheringham's miss kick in the area somehow split the Reds defence and found Croft in acres of space. The winger did not make a mistake and put his low shot past Nick Colgan.

Croft the should have seen red just a minute later for a ridiculously badly timed challenge that left Howard in agony but the Norwich winger somehow escaped with a yellow.

McCann again brought a fine save from Warner on 33 minutes as he smashed a free kick round the Norwich City wall but again the Canaries keeper was well placed to make the stop.

Norwich almost took advantage of another slice of luck on 36 minutes as Howard's pass struck a defender and sent Huckerby away. The City frontman broke quickly but saw his low shot deflect through to Colgan.

The Canaries got things right again on 41 minutes as Croft managed to pick an easy pass through the heart of the Barnsley defence to find Huckerby in acres of space in behind Heckingbottom. The frontman took his time and planted over a perfect cross to give Chris Martin the simplest of headers from six yards.

Fotheringham really should have made it four in stoppage time as he stole in at the back post to meet Croft's cross but could not direct his header on target.

Barnsley made a game of it a minute later as Ferenczi managed to get his head to Devaney's cross and planted the ball past Warner into the back of the net.

The Reds came out after the break flying and almost got the slice of luck they needed on 47 minutes as Ferenczi's flick fell nicely for Howard in the area but the midfielder's over head kick flew straight at Warner.

At the other end Fotheringham crashed a shot well wide of the target a minute later as Norwich broke quickly.

The Reds went even closer on 51 minutes as Warner made a complete mess of Devaney's cross to give Howard a chance. The midfielder's lob beat the keeper but smashed back off the bar and Andy Hughes managed to clear before Rajczi could pounce.

Devaney whipped over another fine cross on 61 minutes and this time Rajczi managed to get above his marker and his head to the ball but his effort was straight at Warner.

With the Reds pushing forward, Norwich always looked dangerous on the break and Simon Lappin almost caught the home side out on 80 minutes as he smashed one in from distance but Colgan was in the right place to make the save.

Substitute Kyel Reid put a chance on a plate for Marc Richards on 82 minutes with a fine cross that beat the City defence but the Reds substitute could not get his free header on target from 12 yards. Kyel Reid then forced Warner into a fine save three minutes later with a well-struck shot from the edge of the area that the Norwich keeper did well to parry.

Hassell thought he had pulled another goal back in the last minute of stoppage time as he met Kyel Reid's corner but was denied by Warner's legs.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, P. Reid, Nyatanga, Togwell, Ferenczi, Howard, Rajczi (Richards 78), Devaney (K. Reid 68), McCann (Jones 78).
Subs: Lucas, Austin.

NORWICHCITY: Warner, Drury, Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Safri, Hughes, Fotheringham (Etuhu 72), Lappin, Doherty, Martin.
Subs: Lewis, McVeigh, Colin, Chadwick.