Cracking Croatian international Robert Prosinecki inspired Portsmouth to a thumping away-day triumph as Barnsley crashed to their first Oakwell defeat of the season.

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Prosinecki has been the driving force behind Portsmouth's early-season push for promotion glory, and the 32-year-old was again the star of the show against the Tykes.

On the back of two successive defeats, and having slipped from the lofty heights of second to seventh in the process, Portsmouth were in need a revitalising tonic and the free transfer summer signing from Standard Liege provided just that.

Prosinecki played his part in three of the goals, crucially the two in the opening 45 minutes as Graham Rix's side staged a fightback after conceding an early penalty.

Welsh international Darren Barnard stroked home his first goal of the season from the spot in the eighth minute after Scott Hiley had brought down Bruce Dyer in full flight just inside the left-hand edge of the area.

If Dyer had not curled over the bar a 15-yard drive with only on-loan Sasa Ilic to beat seven minutes later, at a time when Barnsley were in control, then Portsmouth would have been staring another loss in the face.

But out of the blue from Rix's boys in blue, Prosinecki delivered a measured cross in the 23rd minute for Jamie Vincent to conjure up a moment of magic with a stunning sidefoot volley from 20 yards, giving Andy Marriott no chance.

England under-18 international Rory Fallon, making his first start for Barnsley, then had a goal ruled out for offside, while Ilic produced an acrobatic save to deny Dean Gorre as the home side threatened to regain the lead.

But on the stroke of half time, Barnsley sustained a body blow from which they never recovered as Prosinecki again provided a perfect cross from the right for £1.2million summer signing Peter Crouch to head home his sixth goal of the season.

Six minutes after the break the visitors then wrapped up their first televised win against a Barnsley side who had previously won three and drawn three of their six home matches.

Skipper Chris Morgan's push on Crouch led to referee Phil Richards awarding another penalty, with Lee Bradbury sending Marriott the wrong way from the spot for a 3-1 lead.

Portsmouth reserved their best to last just before the hour mark as Neil Barrett and Prosinecki exchanged passes on the halfway line, with the latter providing a slide rule pass for Bradbury to run onto.

Bradbury then strode powerfully into the area before unleashing a clinical finish from 15 yards beyond the helpless Marriott to pile on the agony for Barnsley manager Nigel Spackman, whose position could soon come under threat if his side continue to languish near the relegation zone.

Teams:

Barnsley: Marriott, Regan, Barker, Morgan, Barnard, Donovan, Tinkler (Kay 73), Neil, Gorre (Jones 62), Dyer, Fallon.

Subs Not Used: Ghent, Parkin, Sheron.

Booked: Tinkler, Barnard.

Goals: Barnard 9 pen.

Portsmouth: Ilic, Vincent, Crowe, Hiley, Edinburgh, O'Neil, Harper, Barrett, Prosinecki (Pitt 84), Bradbury, Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Tardif, Vine, Brady, Zamperini.

Booked: Crouch, Edinburgh, Bradbury.

Goals: Vincent 23, Crouch 45, Bradbury 51 pen, 59.

Att: 11,660

Ref: P Richards (Preston).