Town almost repeated the 6-1 scoreline the last time the two teams met at Portman Road as Jim Magilton's side went on a goal spree.

Gary Roberts set Blues on the way with an early strike, with George O'Callaghan adding a second just before the break.

Daniel Nardiello gave Barnsley a lifeline with a wonderful free-kick but Danny Haynes made it three soon after and further strikes from Franny Jeffers and Jon Walters wrapped up the win, just one shy of that victory over the Tykes in 1999.

Town followed up on last week's quick fire start against Plymouth and were ahead on just two minutes, Owen Garvan and Jaime Peters linking up to feed Roberts and he finished with a right foot shot past Nick Colgan.

Walters was close to adding a second soon after, blasting his shot wide after a cutting inside on to his right, while at the other end Brian Howard hooked his shot over the bar following a Kyel Reid break.

George celebrates

Peters headed at Colgan from a Roberts corner as the game flowed from end to end, Howard then sending an overhead kick over the bar. Ritchie Jones tested Lewis Price from the edge of the box, the Town 'keeper doing well to make the save low down.

Alan Lee and Walters linked up on 26 minutes with Lee smashing a 20 yard shot past Colgan but against the bar as Town threatened to tie the game up before the break.

Danny Heckingbottom became the first booking of the game after a late challenge, Lee then testing Colgan with a low shot, the effort lacking power.

The Tykes' keeper produced a wonder save on 35 minutes, denying Garvan from point blank range after the Town midfelder had showed great skill to weave his way past two defenders, lifting the ball over Paul Reid before volleying goalwards from six yards.

Alex Bruce made a rare misjudgement seven minutes before the break, Istvan Ferenczi choosing to take his shot early but Price was comfortable with the save.

Jon Walters scores the fifth

Walters dragged his shot wide of the far post when clear, Lee then shooting at Colgan from the edge of the box before Town doubled the lead, O'Callaghan leaving Colgan with no chance with an arrowed strike from 18 yards into the bottom right hand corner.

Colgan was in the action againseconds before the break, holding Roberts' shot from the angle.

Jeffers replaced Lee at the break, while Barnsley, two points off the relegation places at kick-off, replaced defender and skipper Reid with Antony Kay.

Robert Hassell and Jones both joined Heckingbottom in referee Tony Bates' book after fouls in quick succession right in front of the Town dug-out, Blues' boss Jim Magilton not amused.

Peters' pace continued to cause the visitors problems and Lewin Nyatanga did well to block out Jeffers at the near post.

The Tykes did have an opening on the hour but Reid's shot lacked power, Price again in the right place at the right time and seconds later it could have been three, Garvan robbing Jones and surging forward, the ball eventually falling to O'Callaghan who curled his shot over.

Former Manchester United player Nardiello replaced Paul Hayes on 64 minutes as Barnsley boss Simon Davey changed things around, Town soon making a second change with Danny Haynes coming on for Roberts.

Colgan saved again from Jeffers' flick on after David Wright had crossed from the left, the 'keeper then holding Haynes' cross from the other flank after Garvan had broken from midfield.

Peters was inches away from a third as the game entered the last quarter hour, weaving his way into the box before seeing his cross beat everyone including the far post.

Peter Rajczi joined the action, Heckingbottom making way. Ferenczi then booked, quickly followed by Garvan whose foul led to Nardiello scoring from a terrific 30 yard free-kick.

Colgan saved well from Haynes on 81 minutes as Town looked to ease the tension with a killer third goal and the England U19 international duly obliged seconds later, twisting to drive a left foot shot into the net after Jeffers' shot had been blocked.

Jeffers kept his cool to finish with ease five minutes from time after Walters had set him up. The England international sliding the ball past Colgan from six yards.

Jason De Vos and Rajczi both received a yellow card after a flare up following a foul by the Hungarian international on Bruce.

Walters got the goal he deserved just before the final whistle, firing past Colgan after Jeffers had hit the bar.

The win makes it three in succession for Town and leaves the Blues in confident mood ahead of Monday's trip to Sheffield Wednesday while defeat drops Barnsley into the bottom three.