Swansea maintained their quest for an unlikely Championship play-off finish after a clinical display at Oakwell saw off Barnsley and deepened the hosts' relegation worries.

It was all too easy for the Swans who hardly broke a sweat in the first 45 minutes and found themsleves comfortably in the lead thanks to Ashley Williams' second-minute header and a low shot from Jordi Gomez in the 35th minute.

The hosts did improve after the break and they had chances through Jon Macken and Adam Hammill, but Jason Scotland killed them off with 23 minutes remaining, tapping in after a disastrous mix-up between Stephen Foster and Heinz Muller.

The Tykes did pull a goal back through Daniel Bogdanovic, who converted an 84th-minute penalty after Leon Britton handled in the area, but it was too little too late.

For the Swans the three points keep them in with a chance of making the top six and on this display they could prove to be tricky opponents if they make it. Barnsley will be nervously looking over their shoulder at the bottom after another defeat which extends their winless run to five.

The visitors got off to the best possible when after just two minutes they took the lead through Williams.

The centre-back ghosted in at the far post to toe-poke past Muller following an inswinging Gomez free-kick.

At the other end Hammill was justifying his recall to the starting XI with an excellent display and he created a great chance for an equaliser after 15 minutes.

Following good play from Bobby Hassell the on-loan midfielder found space down the right before whipping in a dangerous low cross which Bogdanovic was a toe's length away from tucking home.

The chance seemed to spur the hosts into action and they went close again 10 minutes later when, after Hammill was sent flying by Britton on the edge of the area, Anderson De Silva tried a low free-kick under the wall but Swans goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was alert enough to save down low.

The Swans always presented a goal threat on the break with Gomez sending Muller scrambling to his left with a curling shot which flew past the post.

However, the hosts' reprieve did not last long when from an almost identical position the Spaniard lined up another shot and this time the ball nestled into the bottom corner.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey made a double substitution at half-time with Martin Devaney and Hugo Colace sent on.

The changes almost paid immediate dividends as Devaney won a corner from which Hammill swung a dangerous cross into the box and captain Foster's header was cleared off the line.

Moments later Macken had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit.

De Silva made good ground down the left before floating in a cross to the far post but Macken, unmarked beyond the last defender, headed tamely at De Vries.

Hammill, who was by far and away Barnsley's most creative performer, stung the palms of De Vries on the hour mark with a rising shot from the edge of the area.

The game was all but ended with 23 minutes to go as a mix-up between Foster and Muller presented Scotland with the easiest of finishes from six yards before Bogdanovic's late consolation.

Teams

Barnsley Muller, Hassell, Moore, Foster, Kozluk,Campbell-Ryce (Colace 46), De Silva, Teymourian (Devaney 46),Hammill, Macken (Mifsud 81), Bogdanovic.

Subs Not Used: Odejayi, Guedes.

Booked: Campbell-Ryce, Hammill, Hassell, De Silva.

Goals: Bogdanovic 84 pen.

Swansea De Vries, Tate, Williams, Monk, Serran, Britton,Pratley, Gomez, Gower (Dyer 86), Scotland (Bauza 79),Pintado (Allen 60).

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Bessone.

Booked: Britton, De Vries.

Goals: Williams 2, Gomez 36, Scotland 67.

Att: 11,788

Ref: David Foster (Tyne & Wear).