Bristol City 3-2 Barnsley
- Published
Bristol City and Barnsley were heading for a fourth successive 2-2 draw before Aden Flint's powerful header
Bristol City twice came from behind to beat Barnsley and take a significant step towards securing their Championship status.
George Moncur's shot deflected in off team-mate Alex Mowatt to put the Tykes ahead, but Tammy Abraham stabbed in his 23rd league goal of the season for 1-1.
Moncur's strike then restored Barnsley's lead, only for Jamie Paterson to level for a second time.
Aden Flint's header ensured City are six points above the relegation places.
The Robins, who also climbed above QPR into 17th, are now all but mathematically safe with two games remaining.
Their status in the second tier had looked seriously under threat when a club record eight-match losing sequence left them on the brink of the bottom three, also putting head coach Lee Johnson under pressure from supporters.
But a run of only two defeats in 10 games, and three victories in their last four, has hauled them clear of danger.
It was far from a straightforward afternoon against Barnsley, with the visitors twice deservedly going ahead through Moncur, before Flint's late header completed City's comeback.
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "I feel like I want to celebrate but we can't just yet. In any case, all credit to the players for a fantastic second-half performance. When Jamie Paterson is at it he is unplayable. Today he looked like a £25million player and if big clubs from home or abroad were watching him that's what they would have thought.
"We didn't stick to our game plan in the first half and there were a few Jaffa Cakes flying around the dressing room at half-time as some home truths were delivered.
"In the second half Tammy Abraham and Matty Taylor were brilliant up front and the rest of the team responded. The crowd were unbelievable and in the end it was a terrific effort."
Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom on Marc Roberts' injury: "It was a match-changing injury. We had to reorganise our back-line and never looked the same team.
"But I am not going to use it as an excuse. Injuries give opportunities to other players and in this case they weren't taken.
"We got what we deserved in the end and I learned a few more things about my players going forward. Roberts would have been marking Flint for his winning goal but we needed to be better after starting the game well."