HUDDERSFIELD Town have produced better performances this season and been involved in feistier derbies down the years.

But on a day of drama elsewhere in the Championship, a straightforward win which put Simon Grayson’s side back into the play-off places was very palatable.

Superbly backed by 3,967 travelling fans in a 12,130 Oakwell crowd, Town took the lead against the run of play, but then protected it really well.

The visitors had looked a little susceptible before Jermaine Beckford bagged his third goal in six loan outings in the 36th minute.

But thereafter, Barnsley were prevented from mustering a genuine effort on target while Simon Church (twice), Lee Novak and Paul Dixon all stung the fingers of home keeper Luke Steele.

Welsh international Church, brought in on loan from Reading last Thursday, showed plenty of promise and supplied the cross from the left which was neatly headed home at the near post by fellow loanee Beckford.

Click on the link below to open a gallery of match action taken pitchside

The Leicester man returned from a two-match absence because of a hamstring injury to make his mark and answer the taunts of the home fans in the best way.

Hopefully Grayson’s precautionary move of bringing him off on the hour because of some tightness in the affected leg will pay dividends, because there’s no doubting the danger Beckford poses to opponents.

He’s not just a very effective finisher, but also a hard worker who can boast pace, power and persistence among his qualities.

And while he may have lost frontline partner and thigh injury victim James Vaughan for the time being, Church looks more than capable of making his mark during an initial month with the John Smith’s Stadium club.