Goals from Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee and Dean Windass saw the Tigers claim a convincing 3-1 victory against Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday evening.

Marney's first half penalty put City in control before Ashbee doubled the lead shortly after half time.

Windass then put the icing on the cake as he scored with his first touch after coming off the bench before Barnsley grabbed a late consolation in added time.

There were three changes to the side that started against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend.

Craig Fagan and Bryan Hughes replaced the injured duo of Richard Garcia and Henrik Pedersen on the wings while Caleb Folan came in for Dean Windass, who dropped to the bench.

Windass was joined on the bench by Matt Duke, Simon Walton, Nathan Doyle and Ryan France.

City almost went in front inside a minute.

Hughes sent a hopeful ball through but as goalkeeper Luke Steele came out to collect, defender Rob Kozluk headed the ball past him and Stephen Foster had to recover to clear off the line.

At the other end, Jon Macken tried his luck with a curling shot from 20 yards which went just wide.

It was a bright start and there were plenty of feisty challenges from both sets of players to help get the crowd going.

The Tigers were awarded a penalty in the 24th minute when Fraizer Campbell, who was being watched by England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce, was felled by Dennis Souza in the box.

Dean Marney stepped up to take it and sent Steele the wrong way with a confidently taken spot kick.

Barnsley looked for a quick response and Macken tested Boaz Myhill with a shot from 20 yards, but the City keeper was equal to the effort.

City were living dangerously and when they failed to clear Diego Leon's free kick, Michael Turner had to clear Macken's weak effort off the line.

In the 31st minute, a neat one-two between Hughes and Campbell led to the former shooting just wide from the edge of the box. Moments later, Campbell headed wide from Fagan's cross.

A hail storm shortly before half time had some fans running for cover and served to make the Oakwell surface a little more tricky.

Half Time: Tigers 1-0 Barnsley

Barnsley made a change at half time as Michael Coulson replaced Lewin Nyatanga.

Good play from Campbell won City a corner in the 52nd minute.

A short routine between Andy Dawson and Marney saw the former eventually deliver for Campbell, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Steele before being turned behind by Coulson.

From the resulting corner, the Tigers made it 2-0. Marney's excellent delivery was met by Ian Ashbee, whose powerful header from six yards gave Steele no chance,

City continued to press and only a fine save from Steele prevented Campbell from adding to the scoreline.

At the other end, Bobby Hassell blazed over from 25 yards.

A good ball from Hughes sent Folan scampering away in the 62nd minute but from a tight angle, he could only send a shot across the face of goal.

Moments later, Folan should have been awarded a penalty when his powerful run was ended by Souza, but somehow the referee failed to spot the foul and waved play on.

From City's next corner, Steele flapped at Marney's deep ball in, but Campbell could only head wide at the far post.

Myhill almost gifted Barnsley a route back into the game when he spilled the ball in the box, but substitute Daniel Nardiello could only slice wide.

City made their first change with around 12 minutes remaining as Ryan France replaced Fagan.

That was soon followed by the arrival of Wndass for Folan.

He made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch as he converted Campbell's neat flick on 83 minutes to make it 3-0 and seal the points.

City's final change saw Walton replace Campbell with two minutes remaining.

Two minutes into added time, Barnsley netted a consolation when substitute Istvan Ferenczi headed home a right wing cross.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Wayne Brown, Andy Dawson; Craig Fagan (Fagan 78), Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain], Bryan Hughes; Fraizer Campbell (Walton), Caleb Folan (Windass 82).

Subs: Matt Duke, Nathan Doyle, Simon Walton, Ryan France, Dean Windass.

Bookings: Nil

Barnsley (3-5-2) Luke Steele; Stephen Foster [captain], Dennis Souza, Lewin Nyatanga (Coulson 46); Marciano Van Homoet, Bobby Hassell, Jemal Campbell-Ryce (Ferenczi 78), Diego Leon, Rob Kozluk; Jon Macken, Kayode Odejayi (Nardiello 67).

Subs: Sam Togwell, Istvan Ferenczi, Daniel Nardiello, Michael Coulson, Kyle Letheren.

Bookings: Nil

With only three games of the season to go, this win moved the Tigers up to second position at Championship level for the first time since October 1987.

The only previous time City have been in the top three at this level in the month of April was in 1910.