Barnsley climbed out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone after coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Oakwell.

The omens did not look good for the Tykes when Shefki Kuqi fired the Eagles into a deserved early lead.

But Simon Davey's strugglers rolled up their sleeves and Jamal Campbell-Ryce equalised midway through the first half with a clinical right-foot finish.

Palace should have been in front at half-time and they were made to pay when young full-back Lee Hills scored an own goal six minutes into the second half and Michael Mifsud's second goal for the Tykes sealed the points.

The victory lifted Davey's side up three places to 19th and they still have two games in hand over fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Norwich and Plymouth.

Palace boss Neil Warnock started the day by claiming he should still be a Premier League manager due to the Carlos Tevez affair, but it appears almost certain he will have to wait at least another season to take the Eagles back into the top flight.

Palace were not short of confidence following their impressive victory at Swansea on Saturday and Anthony Stokes almost put them in front in the first minute.

The on-loan striker's free-kick from 25 yards out looked to be looping into the net, but Heinz Muller tipped the ball over the crossbar at full stretch.

Muller, however, could do nothing to prevent Palace taking the lead seven minutes in.

After some good work on the right from the lively Stokes the ball fell for Victor Moses, who found the unmarked Kuqi and the Finnish striker blasted home his ninth goal of the season from 12 yards out.

Palace looked dangerous every time they came forward and Kuqi almost doubled their lead but Muller palmed away the striker's goal-bound header.

But Barnsley restored parity after 22 minutes with a goal that came totally out of the blue.

Jon Macken picked the ball up just inside the Palace half and played in the onrushing Campbell-Ryce, who ran clear of the Palace defence and kept his composure to slide the ball past Julian Speroni.

Anderson De Silva missed a chance to put Barnsley in front but headed straight at Speroni.

Muller was called into action at the other end to palm away Stokes' drive.

The Tykes made a bright start to the second half and the nippy Mifsud volleyed over the bar after being set up by strike partner Macken.

But the home side were in front six minutes into the second half courtesy of an excellent run from Rob Kozluk.

The former Sheffield United full-back darted into the penalty area with a quick turn of foot and played the ball across goal where the unfortunate Hills could only slice into his own net.

Palace were almost gifted an equaliser courtesy of a mix-up between Bobby Hassell and Muller, but Darren Moore was on hand to sweep up.

And it was Hassell who came to the rescue after 70 minutes when a flowing Palace move resulted in Kuqi's header being diverted over the crossbar by the alert full-back.

Barnsley always looked dangerous on the break and they were given some breathing space 17 minutes from time courtesy of the diminutive Mifsud.

The on-loan striker raced onto a flick on from Macken and emphatically beat Speroni with a superb left-foot finish.

Teams

Barnsley Muller, Hassell, Moore, Foster, Kozluk,Hammill (Devaney 79), Colace, De Silva, Campbell-Ryce,Macken (Bogdanovic 75), Mifsud (El Haimour 89).

Subs Not Used: Steele, Van Homoet.

Booked: Kozluk.

Goals: Campbell-Ryce 23, Hills 52 og, Mifsud 73.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Derry, Jose Fonte (Ertl 46), Hill,Hills, Stokes, Danns (Oster 66), Carle (Comley 78), Moses,Kuqi, Clyne.

Subs Not Used: Ifill, Rui Fonte.

Booked: Kuqi.

Goals: Kuqi 8.

Att: 10,885

Ref: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).