Everything went right for Crystal Palace on Tuesday night as they destroyed Barnsley at Oakwell with some slick finishing.
Even the Eagles' goal-shy stars Ade Akinbiyi and Julian Gray got on the scoresheet alongside Dougie Freedman and Aki Riihilahti as the visitors pummeled the Tykes into submission.
After a brisk opening where chances were at a premium, Palace took the lead on the half-hour with a good piece of flowing football. Steve Thomson and Gray exchanged passes on the left, and the latter stormed to the byline where he sent over a juicy cross for the waiting Freedman. The Scotland international sent a fine header past former Palace keeper Kevin Miller, and sent Palace on their way.
Freedman and Miller's former team-mate Bruce Dyer levelled for Barnsley after 41 minutes, when he latched onto a corner that Palace failed to clear, and flicked the ball over Matt Clarke to ensure the Yorkshiremen went into the break level.
The Eagles went into the lead again 10 minutes after the break, when Riihilahti bundled in a corner that Barnsley failed to clear, and Palace, who played the better football throughout, looked solid. And when Palace's much-maligned striker Akinbiyi scored with his first touch a header that appeared to come off his nose Palace had claimed the victory. It only took a piece of individual magic from the ever-impressive Gray, running in from the left unchallenged and firing into the far corner from the edge of the box, to complete a superb night's work.
A delighted Trevor Francis said after the victory: "It's always pleasing to win away from home but I don't think Barnsley deserved to lose 4-1. It was a good response from our players to the defeat at home to Sheffield United.
"I thought Barnsley were the better side in the first half, and Matt Clarke made three outstanding saves."
And Francis was pleased to see Ade Akinbiyi net his first goal for Palace. He said: "I decided to play 4-4-2 so Akinbiyi went onto the bench. He is very much a team player and was more interested in the team.
"It wasn't the best header you've ever seen. I think it came off his nose. But it was a really positive moment for him and for the team."
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