Barnsley 2-1 Derby County: Aaron Leya Iseka seals Tykes' win over Rams
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Barnsley were almost breached at the end but Derby's players were left to rue the missed opportunities
Aaron Leya Iseka's second-half strike earned managerless Barnsley a come-from-behind victory in a Championship relegation six-pointer with fellow strugglers Derby County.
The 23-year-old Belgian beat the Rams' offside trap as he latched onto a ball over the top and fired past Kelle Roos in the game's decisive moment.
Derby had earlier taken the lead after Sam Baldock drilled a low shot past Brad Collins, following a pass from Tom Lawrence that released him on the right of the box.
Victor Adeboyejo levelled for the home side just before the break, finding space on the right before cutting in and lashing a left-footer past Roos.
The visitors gave it their all to get back into the game after Iseka's goal and could have taken a point at the end but Lee Buchanan hit the crossbar with his header as Barnsley interim boss Joseph Laumann claimed a priceless three points in his first game in charge.
With no win in 13 before the game and a run of seven straight defeats, it has been a tough spell for Barnsley, leading to the departure of Markus Schopp on Monday, but they showed plenty of character and mettle in front of their own fans.
Leya Iseka might have scored earlier when he put his header directly at Roos from point-blank range, their best chance aside from the two goals.
Defeat would have sent Barnsley to the foot of the Championship, but instead they are now six points above the Rams.
Wayne Rooney's side remain adrift at the bottom after their 12-point deduction in September, but they had enough chances to get something from the game.
Collins had to be at his best to paw away a Lawrence effort in the first half, and he also denied Louie Sibley in similar fashion after the break.
The Rams have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season following Saturday's defeat by Blackburn, and are without a win in six.
Barnsley interim boss Joseph Laumann told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It's not easy, I think all the credit goes to the boys, how everybody reacted to the past two days, what energy they put in, it was quite an interactive day, everybody tried to buy in.
"To be in a difficult situation like this and to go 1-0 down, after a good start, I think we deserved to be in front but then we conceded and to react like this shows the character of the team.
"We showed a big unity with the fans, staff and players, and this is what we're capable of doing.
"I'm happy for Victor. We kept going and I think we deserved a goal. What a pass from Callum Brittain, great movement to get in behind by Aaron but it's a full team effort."
Derby boss Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio Derby:
"It wasn't good enough, we didn't start the game well enough and didn't deserve to be a goal up but when we were 1-0 up we had to settle the game down.
"We went a bit more direct, there were spaces for us there to play but we didn't do that. We conceded two goals, I don't know how to describe them, but you can't concede two goals like that.
"Certainly over the last three games as individuals and as a collective we can do better, we know that and it hurts. I'm hurt by that performance.
"As I've said to the players, that's not a reflection of me as a character, I don't expect my team to play that way. I expect a reaction on Saturday."