BBC Sport Match Report
Source: BBC Sport
Swansea maintained the pressure on the top two in the Championship with a 2-0 win over in-form Barnsley.
Jamal Lowe put the hosts ahead after only 76 seconds, firing home from close range as Barnsley failed to clear.
The visitors applied plenty of pressure but Victor Adeboyejo's own goal from a Swansea corner ended their resistance.
Barnsley, who had more possession than the hosts, could not make it count and the result sees them slip to 13th while Swansea rise to third.
Swansea boss Steve Cooper was looking for a response from his side after a one-sided defeat by Derby County in midweek, though that came off the back of the Swans' fantastic performance in their 2-0 derby win over Cardiff City.
However, they knew they would be in for a tough contest against a Barnsley side who had won 12 points from an available 15 in December under Valerien Ismael.
Neither side were helped by a pitch in such a poor state that it was ripped up immediately after the final whistle, with the hosts especially unable to play their usual passing game - especially as the rain lashed down.
The previous three encounters between these sides had ended in draws, but with the hosts unbeaten in their past 11 league games. The Tykes, who had lost seven and failed to win any of their past nine visits, with their last win coming at the Vetch Field in 1974.
The Swans have made the Liberty Stadium a fortress this season, unbeaten in their past six games with five clean sheets, so it was no surprise to see them race into an early advantage as they opened the scoring after just 76 seconds.
The goal was simple enough, with Yan Dhanda heading the ball into the penalty area where Ben Cabango headed towards the back post for an unmarked Lowe to finish comfortably.
It was the only clear chance in the opening 30 minutes with Alex Mowatt testing goalkeeper Freddie Woodman with a free-kick for the visitors and Matt Grimes working Jack Walton with his own set-piece after Walton was booked for fouling Dhanda.
Lowe's clever play almost created a chance for Connor Roberts, but the ball just evaded the Wales international as the first half petered out, with Barnsley showing plenty of endeavour but little quality in the final third.
Encouragement for the visitors was the fact no side has won more points from losing positions in the Championship this season than Barnsley and they had the first effort of the second half, but Conor Chaplin's shot was blocked.
Lowe twice went clear after smart passes by Grimes, but Walton denied him and then the angle did as the former Wigan forward flashed across goal, prompting Barnsley to make a triple substitution as they chased parity.
However, it was one of the substitutes, Adeboyejo, who doubled the hosts' advantage when he headed Grimes' corner into his own net midway through the second half.
Barnsley continued to huff and puff and look to build pressure, but the meanest defence in the Championship held firm again, having conceded only 12 goals in 20 games.
Swansea manager Steve Cooper told BBC Sport Wales:
Defensively I thought we were excellent, they can be difficult to deal with.... but I thought we controlled the game.
We took a step back on Wednesday and we wanted to put that right today and we did that.
I thought I would get a response and we did, there was a real intensity in training.
We are all pleased about the pitch (being replaced), it is quite exciting.
Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael said:
It was a strange game. It is not possible every time to concede early. It is not the first time.
It is very difficult to come back every time. In the first half we were near to 1-1, I told the guys at half-time to accept the awful pitch and to fight and to go back to the basics.
But the intensity was not there, there was fatigue. We have to take into account the situation… in such a schedule, we can get such a performance.
We go again, we accept today was not the best we will see, we deserved to lose, the pitch was really awful, but probably it affected Swansea more.
