BARNSLEY 2
Nardiello 30, Macken 45
WEST BROM 1
Morrison 58
High-FLYING West Brom may be dreaming of playing at Old Trafford next season - but they were shot down well and truly by strikes from two former Manchester United trainees.
It's quite a time since Daniel Nardiello and Jon Macken dreamed of a glowing future at the Theatre of Dreams.
In the more down-to-earth surroundings of Oakwell yesterday, both made their mark - and made the Baggies pay for their poor defensive play.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray said: "We got what we deserved. The whole team were poor, unacceptable. I need a reaction on Tuesday before our cup game at Coventry.
"But we are still second and though we dipped below our high standards, we'll settle for that at the end of the season."
Barnsley manager Simon Davey was desperate to arrest his side's freefall in the league before their glorious FA Cup showdown against Liverpool at Anfield next Saturday.
He said: "We took the game to a very good side; we out-played and out-fought them. We have now beaten West Brom, Watford and Bristol City. The trick is for us to pick up more points on our travels in the league, starting on Tuesday at Plymouth."
Nardiello had already hit a post and missed a sitter by the time he put Barnsley ahead on 30 minutes.
A dreadful mistake let in the 25-year-old as West Brom defender Bostjan Cesar was robbed of the ball as he dithered.
The striker drew keeper Dean Kiely, who desperately tried to narrow the angle, only for Nardiello to beat him.
It was his f i r s t g o a l since his return to Oakwell and it set Barnsley on their way to only their third win in their last 14 league outings.
At the end of the first half it was the turn of Macken, who grabbed his chance to notch up his fifth strike for Barnsley.
Nardiello created the opportunity when his shot hit Jonathan Greening on the goal line, only for Macken to bundle home from close range.
West Brom did fight back, led by former Middlesbrough midfielder James Morrison, who was rewarded with a goal.
Morrison's driving run down the middle put Barnsley on the back foot straightaway.
A quick feed to Kevin Phillips saw a clever back-heeled pass into Morrison's path and he blasted low and hard into the net.
West Brom's double substitution at half-time made a big difference as Leon Barnett shored up the back line and Craig Beattie gave Phillips help up front - but the damage had been done earlier on.
HOW THEY RATED
BARNSLEY
Warner 6, Foster 7, NYATANGA 8, Souza 7, Kozluk 6, Devaney 6, Anderson 7, Howard 7, Leon 7 (Hassell 6), Machin 7, Ferenczi 6, Narbiello 7 (Coulson 6).
Manager Davies 8
WEST BROM
Kiely 7, Hoeskens 6, Albrechtsen 7, Cesar 4 (Barnett 7), Robinson 6, Teixeira 6, Greening 6, Morrison 7, Brunt 6, Bednar 4 (Beattie 6), Phillips 7.
Manager Mowbray 6
Referee T Bates 7
MAN OF THE MATCH
LEWIN NYATANGA
Tamed the Baggies' strikeforce throughout