Nakhi Wells couldn't make the scoresheet, but was right at the heart of a comprehensive Town win which left neighbours Barnsley deep in the Championship relegation mire.

The club-record £1.3m signing from Bradford had a crucial hand in four of his side's goals, scored by Keith Southern, Danny Ward, Adam Hammill, Adam Clayton and Sean Scannell.

It was a highly convincing way for the home side to bounce back from the previous week's 2-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.

Town's former Barnsley manager Mark Robins made changes to both his team and formation, bringing in right-back Calum Woods, centre-half Murray Wallace and midfielder Southern and going 4-2-1-3 rather than 3-5-2.

Peter Clarke and Tommy Smith dropped to the bench while Jonathan Hogg was ruled out by a calf problem.

The game started at a high tempo and there were decent chances for both teams in the first 10 minutes.

Ward won a 50:50 with Martin Cranie and shot past keeper Luke Steele, but his shot was hacked clear by Peter Ramage.

Then former Town right-back Jack Hunt put in an inviting cross for Nick Proschwitz, but Alex Smithies pulled off a fine save at the back post.

Centre-back Anthony Gerrard did well to thwart Proschwitz as the on-loan Hull man met Liam Lawrence's 24th-minute delivery, also from the right, at the near post.

It had been pretty even, but Town took a grip in the 29th minute, when Southern put them in front with his first goal of the season, turned in from close range as Wells shot after Barnsley failed to deal with a Clayton free-kick.

The lead was doubled in the 32nd minute, when Ward netted his seventh of the term as Wells crossed from the right.

Barnsley were struggling to deal with Town's incisive attacking, and Wells (twice), Ward and Hammill all came close with shots before the break, Barnsley's best chance coming when Hunt curled an effort just over.

Hammill, relishing the more advanced role given to him, finally counted against his former club three minutes into the second period, notching his third of the campaign after being teed up by Wells.

Then the busy Bermudian striker won the 58th-minute penalty from which Clayton beat Steele, who had committed the foul, to put Town four to the good (it was the midfielder's sixth goal of the season).

Ward had a well-struck shot saved as Town continued to push forward, with Barnsley looking pretty bedraggled.

The fifth finally arrived four minutes from time when substitute Scannell romped through and drilled home his first goal of the term.

But there was no hiding the role played by Wells, who was given a rousing ovation when he was substituted immediately after the final goal.

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