Bristol City kept alive their faint hopes of a Coca-Cola Championship play-off push with a comfortable victory over out-of-form Barnsley.

Gavin Williams came off the bench to score the opener, latching onto a Cole Skuse through-ball and lifting his effort past Reds goalkeeper Heinz Muller.

And the points were made safe when former Barnsley winger Michael McIndoe struck from 18 yards after good work by Peter Styvar.

The goals came against the run of play somewhat with Barnsley dominating possession but lacking the required killer instinct to find the back of the net.

Bobby Hassell did go close for the Reds with a 20-yard piledriver which hit the crossbar, but it was too little for the visitors who have now lost four league games on the bounce and continue their spiral towards the relegation zone.

The Robins, meanwhile have won two on the spin and will hope this can act as a springboard for a top-six push.

It was the Reds who were first to threaten when Jon Macken found himself free in the area but his header was easily saved by Adrian Basso.

The visitors broke well moments later and Martin Devaney almost created an opening on goal after a mazy run, only for the former Cheltenham man to lose his footing in the area.

Bristol City finally had a shot on goal in the 20th minute through Stern John. The Trinidad and Tobago striker swivelled on the edge of the area but he seemed to lose his footing and he fluffed a shot over the bar.

At the other end, Macken tested Basso with a low shot which the Brazilian easily smothered at the near post.

The hosts should have taken the lead moments later, however, when John was released though one on one with Heinz Muller, who stood tall and blocked the goal-bound effort.

Out of the two sides Barnsley looked the most likely to score as the half approached with first Odejayi drilling a shot wide and then strike partner Macken heading straight at Basso from close range.

After a quiet start to the second half the game came to life in the 55th minute when Bradley Orr was denied by the woodwork.

The City defender made his way up from full-back to strike a shot from the edge of the area which cannoned back off the crossbar.

The ball then fell kindly to Jamal Campbell-Ryce who started a swift counter attack which resulted in the Jamaica international testing Basso with a low shot.

Barnsley continued to dominate possession but they were caught by the sucker punch when Williams broke the deadlock in the 64th minute.

Williams was introduced in place of the injured Ivan Sproule and he made a quick impact, latching onto a Skuse through ball before lifting his shot into the top corner.

Barnsley almost responded immediately when Hassell lashed a shot against the crossbar from 20 yards.

But McIndoe secured the three points with a 79th-minute strike which sailed into the top corner.

Teams

Bristol City Basso, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, McAllister, Skuse,Johnson, McIndoe, Sproule (Williams 54), Adebola (Akinde 82),John (Styvar 54).

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Iriekpen.

Goals: Williams 65, McIndoe 79.

Barnsley Muller, Van Homoet, Moore, Guedes, Kozluk,Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, De Silva, Devaney, Odejayi, Macken.

Subs Not Used: Steele, El Haimour, Butterfield, Potter, Heslop.

Booked: Odejayi, Guedes.

Att: 15,667

Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).