Barnsley boss Neill Collins on Carlisle United victory

The Tykes saw off Paul Simpson’s strugglers with a 3-2 victory at Brunton Park.

Barnsley became the 11th team in 12 games to defeat the relegation-bound Blues.

But Collins still talked up the result in light of their 5-1 home thrashing at home to Lincoln City on Saturday.

“I’m very satisfied,” he told the BBC.

“In some respects it’s the biggest win of the season.

“Coming off a disappointing result and performance at the weekend, and when you come to Carlisle – bottom of the table – everyone just expects it to three points.

• Paul Simpson's reaction to Carlisle's defeat against Barnsley

“But we know it’s not as easy as that. Watching them at Charlton [last Saturday], Charlton scored late…everyone in this league, on their day, makes it difficult for you.

“But outside of the first and last five minutes we were very good and deservedly winners.”

Barnsley had to come from behind after frontman Luke Armstrong pounced to score early on for Carlisle.

But once the visitors got back into things their superiority was clear.

Jon Russell scores Barnsley's third goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

“This job and game’s hard enough – we love to make it harder for ourselves,” added Collins, whose side moved up a place to fourth in the League One promotion race.

“It’s hard to be critical because the performance was good and we should have scored more goals. But we made elementary mistakes which is frustrating.”

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Barnsley, for whom it was a first visit to Brunton Park sine 1985, took command despite Collins resting his 17-goal top scorer Devante Cole, who was a substitute.

In his place was the former United striker Sam Cosgrove, whose line-leading performance included an assist for the second goal scored by John McAtee.

“Sam deserved an opportunity,” said Collins. “I thought he was excellent.”