Ipswich Town took another giant step towards the Championship this evening with a stunning victory away at Barnsley.
The hosts had won nine in a row at Oakwell heading into this game, but were dismantled by an Ipswich side who turned an even, frenetic, contest on its head at the very end of the first half with two quick goals.
Nathan Broadhead’s header and a brilliant George Hirst goal put Kieran McKenna’s men 2-0 up at the break, with Conor Chaplin making the contest truly safe in the second period with a cool lifted finish.
Broadhead had earlier seen a penalty saved, but it mattered not as the Blues ran out comfortable winners to put promotion within touching distance.
Victory at home to Exeter on Saturday would seal the Blues spot in the Championship, with the lead over Sheffield Wednesday now standing at four points with both sides having two matches to play.
Plymouth remain a point clear at the top of the table after victory of their own, at home to Bristol Rovers, this evening, with the destination of the League One title looking likely to go to the final day of the season.
The Blues were unchanged following the victory at Peterborough on Saturday, with the only switch to the 18 seeing Greg Leigh come onto the bench in place of Janoi Donacien, who picked up a knock at London Road.
That meant Christian Walton started in goal, with Harry Clarke, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess and Leif Davis making up the back four.
Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo were in midfield, with Wes Burns, Chaplin and Broadhead behind Hirst in attack.
For the hosts, former Ipswich striker James Norwood started up front, with ex-Blues Barry Cotter and Luke Thomas both on the bench.
The start was frenetic, with both sides looking to get the ball down to play but not finding the quality in the final third, until Burgess started a quick Ipswich attack which ended with Luongo curling a brilliant shot which bounced down off the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line.
Barnsley responded with an Adam Phillips shot which the midfielder dragged wide, before Norwood took aim from range but could only send a tame shot straight along the floor and straight at Walton.
Phillips had another effort, this time deflected into the hands of Walton, with Town second best inside the opening half an hour as Barnsley had more of the ball and tested the Ipswich box.
The visitors, though, had the game’s next big chance as Broadhead slid Hirst through into the penalty area, only for the striker to drag his shot across the face of goal as he let fly from a tight angle.
Everything changed just before the break, with Town soaking up what Barnsley threw at them before unleashing themselves in the closing stages of the half.
First, Broadhead was able to sneak a brilliant header inside Harry Istead’s near post, before Hirst doubled the Town lead just a few minutes later with a stunning display of strength and power running as he beat Mads Andersen before settling himself and unleashing a brilliant shot which hit the back of the net at pace.
The two goals sent a packed away end wild, with the 5,000 travelling fans surely now believing promotion was within touching distance.
After an even opening to the second period the visitors had the chance to make it three, when Burns burst through a pack of Barnsley bodies and hit the deck, giving Broadhead the chance to net his second penalty in a week after his winner against Port Vale. The former Everton man went for power down the middle, but Isted was equal to his kick and pushed it away.
Norwood soon exited after a quiet night, with the former Town man quickly heading down the tunnel past the Ipswich fans to a chorus of jeers, with Town maintaining pressure but having to deal with Barnsley threat in equal measure.
Slobodan Tedic headed wide from Jordan Williams’ driven cross as Barnsley searched for a route back into the contest, before Leigh entered the game for Town in place of Davis.
A stunning night for the Blues was complete when Burns and Hirst caused carnage in the Barnsley defence, with Chaplin the calmest man in the stadium as he lifted the ball over the traffic in front of him and into the net to send the away fans wild.
Victory on Saturday seals promotion.
Barnsley: Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams (Cotter, 81), Russell (Benson, 58), Kane, Phillips (L Thomas, 69), Cadden; Cole (Watters, 81), Norwood (Tedic, 58)
Subs: Collins, Larkeche
Ipswich Town: Walton; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis (Leigh, 76); Morsy, Luongo (Ball, 84); Burns (Jackson, 84), Chaplin, Broadhead (Harness, 84); Hirst (Ladapo, 84)
Subs: Hladky, Edwards
Att: 17,080 (4,855 Ipswich fans)
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