sport

Palace eye play-offs after Tykes win

Scowcroft: On target

The Tykes found Palace a tougher proposition than Liverpool or Chelsea as Soares' third goal of the season and the 100th of Scowcroft's career kept Neil Warnock's men firmly in the hunt for a place in the Championship play-offs.

Goalkeeper Luke Steele, one of the many stars of Barnsley's stunning run to the last four of the cup, pulled off a couple of superb saves but could not prevent Soares finding the target a minute into the second half.

And Scowcroft brought up his ton with eight minutes remaining as Palace leapfrogged south London rivals Charlton in the table.

Barnsley cannot afford to take their eye off the ball, with relegation still a possibility, and were left to rue first-half chances for Kayode Odejayi and Istvan Ferenczi which went begging.

Palace, taking on their second cup semi-finalists in a week following Wednesday night's draw at West Brom, were first on the attack with Scowcroft planting a header straight at Steele.

Steele, playing the final game of his initial - and eventful - one-month loan spell from the Baggies, was then relieved to see the ball run out of play after his clearance cannoned straight into Soares.

But the Tykes goalkeeper made a fine save in the 15th minute when Scowcroft met Soares' cross with a powerful downward header, diving low to his left to claw the ball away.

Seconds later Barnsley thought they had taken the lead when Odejayi, the goalscoring hero against Chelsea last weekend, nodded Brian Howard's corner towards goal but Shaun Derry blocked on the line and the big striker skied the rebound.

Ferenczi should have fired Barnsley ahead on the half-hour after being played in by Odejayi, but hit a tame shot which was blocked by a combination of Julian Speroni and Mark Hudson.

Ben Watson then tested Steele with a long-range effort as the first half drew to a close.

But the second period began with a bang as Barnsley allowed Soares too much space to bring the ball forward in their own half.

The 21-year-old midfielder reached the edge of the Tykes' penalty area, switched the ball onto his right foot and thumped a low drive past Steele.

Youngster Sean Scannell then fizzed a shot straight at Steele, before the goalkeeper pulled off another wonderful save to deny Derry.

The former Leeds midfielder's 25-yard curler was destined for the back of the net until Steele flung out a hand and fingertipped the ball onto the post.

Scowcroft should have buried the rebound but sent his header wide of the opposite upright.

Watson drove narrowly over and Clinton Morrison shot straight at Steele before Scowcroft's big moment finally arrived.

Scannell's throw-in was flicked on by Soares and Scowcroft expertly rolled his marker and buried the ball past Steele from six yards.