Barnsley 0-2 Peterborough United: Posh beat Barnsley to snatch play-off spot at Derby's expense
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Jonson Clarke-Harris' 28th goal of the season put Posh in front at Oakwell
Peterborough snatched the final League One play-off place with a hard-fought win at Barnsley, as Derby fell to defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Starting the day needing a victory, and hoping sixth-placed Rams would slip up at Hillsborough, Posh were off to a great start when Jonson Clarke-Harris scored his 28th goal of the season to give them the lead.
When news came through during the first half that Derby had gone behind and had a man sent off, Posh dug deep to resist a Barnsley fightback.
The Tykes, already sure of a play-off semi-final against Bolton, pressed forward in the second half but Jack Taylor netted a second goal for the visitors to grab sixth spot ahead of Derby and set up a play-off clash with Wednesday.
The day had begun in hope rather than expectation for Darren Ferguson's team, knowing that a point for Derby would have meant they not only needed to beat fourth-placed Barnsley at Oakwell, but would need a three-goal margin to overhaul the Rams' superior goal difference.
That proved academic as Derby lost at Hillsborough and Posh took full advantage of a Tykes team which already had one eye on their own play-off date.
The visitors had the perfect start when, with six minutes on the clock, Harrison Burrows slung in a long cross from wide on the left flank. It evaded three defenders and fell for Clarke-Harris, who chested down and swept his shot past Harry Isted.
That brought a response from Michael Duff's team but they were denied a strong penalty shout when James Norwood darted in to steal the ball off the toes of goalkeeper Will Norris as he struggled to control a backpass.
Norris appeared to clip Norwood, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Devante Cole then fired over after Herbie Kane had sent him clear of the defence, and at the other end Posh missed a great chance to double their lead as Joe Ward was sent haring into the box by Kwame Poku, but with a shot or a simple pass his best options, he hesitated and squared the ball, allowing Jordan Williams to backheel it clear.
News that Derby were losing and had been reduced to 10 men late in the first half at Hillsborough had the travelling Posh fans excited, but Barnsley were much better in the second half, with Liam Kitching and substitute Slobodan Tedic both going close.
Posh were content to play on the break and, after two near misses, Taylor scored their second goal on 76 minutes, rising at the near post to head home a Burrows corner.
Barnsley head coach Michael Duff:
"[I'm] a little bit frustrated to be honest, we've been done by a set-play.
"It's tough to replicate the intensity and concentration that's needed to play in these types of games.
"Credit to Peterborough, they're a good team. I'm frustrated about when the second goal came in, I think we went flat after that and never really looked like getting back into the game.
"The last two weeks have been tough but we've had a brilliant season and now we need to tune in again."
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"We got the result we needed and we got a favour off Sheffield Wednesday so it went exactly to plan. We started the game ever so well - I'd spoken all week about getting an early goal and making Derby nervous.
"The second goal was pivotal and when we knew Derby were losing, I had to decide whether to stick or twist - to score a third that kills Derby off and means they have to score twice, but in the end it didn't matter because we managed to get the win.
"The fans were magnificent - they let us know that [Derby's defeat] was a final score, that did us a favour and we had to try to beat them. I did tell them [at half-time] Derby were getting beat and down to 10 men because I didn't want them to waste an opportunity that was in front of them.
"To get to the play-offs when you finish your career, sort of means nothing. I've finished seventh in this league twice and had three promotions but I want another one. We will enjoy today and celebrate, but tomorrow we'll get them back in, recover. [We] need a bit of calmness for two very tough games against Sheffield Wednesday, but we want to get to Wembley."