Gillingham were left empty-handed for the second time in two weeks.

Goals from Ben Pearson and Sam Winnall gave Barnsley a two-goal lead at the break and those goals were enough for all three points.

It was the first time Gills boss Justin Edinburgh had suffered back-to-back defeats since taking over as manager.

The Gills were visiting a ground where success was rare. Only once had they won in Barnsley, back in August 1968. Gillingham had lost the last four, with no wins in their previous 11 visits.

It was the kind of form that would have to end one day. Saturday wasn’t to be that day.

Big-spending Barnsley started the afternoon sitting mid-table in League 1 while Edinburgh’s team were third, having suffered their first defeat of the season at Colchester the week before.

Cody McDonald and Jordan Houghton were dropped from the team which lost in favour of Emmanuel Osadebe and Ben Williamson.

The Gills had a couple of early half chances but it was a speculative strike from Pearson that broke the deadlock.

Josh Scowen’s cross was cleared but Pearson, lurking 25 yards out, crashed the ball back at the goal low and hard, finding the back of the net with 19 minutes gone.

Barnsley had plenty of quality in midfield and wide-man Kadeem Harris attempted to bend the ball home. Stuart Nelson was at full stretch to keep it out.

Gillingham had enjoyed a dominant spell midway through the half, but no goals arrived and deep into first half stoppage-time the hosts added a second with another good finish.

Marley Watkins broke down the right and he pulled the ball back for Winnall, who fired home low for 2-0.

Watkins came close to scoring a third early in the second half. A terrific cross from Reece Wabara was just out of reach.

Edinburgh changed his strikeforce around after an hour. Rory Donnelly’s effort with 20 minutes left flew over the bar while Brennan Dickenson curled a late effort wide.

Nelson denied Barnsley a third, blocking Winnall from close range, as he connected to a Michael Smith cross.

McDonald’s 89th-minute strike was saved by keeper Nick Townsend and Jake Hessenthaler headed against the post in stoppage-time as the Gills ended the match without a goal for the first time in the league this season.

Barnsley: Townsend, Wabara, Mawson, Nyatanga, G Smith, Pearson (M Smith 74mins), Scowen, Hourihane, Harris (Crowley 72mins), Watkins, Winnall (Roberts 90mins). Subs: Davies, Jackson, Bree, Wilkinson.

Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Dickenson, Egan, Ehmer, Wright, Loft, Osadebe (Hessenthaler 66mins), Dack, Norris (Donnelly 62mins), Williamson (McDonald 62mins). Subs not used: G Morris, Garmston, Houghton, A Morris.

Attendance: 8,354 (248 away)