Barnsley 0, Albion 2

Good sides respond, eventually.

They do not allow a blip to develop into a rut after two, three or even four games when they fall below expectations.

Albion are a good side, a very good side. They showed it at Barnsley with a commanding reminder of their automatic promotion credentials.

Their best away performance since prevailing by the same score at Bristol City on Bonfire Night doused the flames of fear threatening to engulf some fans at the Amex, whose anxiety was palpable during the home draw with Ipswich four days earlier.

Not the away faithful (below), who, as Chris Hughton remarked afterwards, sang throughout in the sunshine - yes sunshine at dilapidated Oakwell in February.

The Argus: By the time the weather warms up more regularly, they could be planning for trips next season to Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Turf Moor, where Lincoln's astonishing FA Cup victory made last month's exit for Albion's 'reserves' look not so bad after all.

That humbling was followed by a lesson in intensity from promotion rivals Huddersfield, a fluctuating goal feast at Brentford, a comfortable win over Burton and those two dropped points against Ipswich.

Now the heat reverts back to Huddersfield, not so much Newcastle, because second or first is not what matters for Albion. Second or third is what counts.

Huddersfield are seven points behind with tomorrow night's game in hand at home to fellow pursuers Reading, Saturday's visitors to the Amex.

Albion will benefit one way or another, but enough of the others. The Seagulls will not have to worry if they reach 90 points which, with their massively superior goal difference, would surely be enough.

Three more points towards the total were attained in South Yorkshire in a manner further exploding the myth, peddled mainly by unrealistic Norwich supporters, that Hughton is inclined to be too cautious.

It would have been understandable, bearing in mind the prior recent struggles on their travels and the significance of avoiding another defeat, if he had sacrificed a striker for an extra midfielder.

Instead Hughton stuck to his 4-4-2 guns - a system few others are prepared to risk in the top two divisions - accompanied by a big call.

Glenn Murray's return to the starting line-up to spearhead the attack was only mildly surprising, but certainly more so than Jamie Murphy's predictable return to the left flank at the expense of Solly March.

The leading marksman had not been at his best in recent games, hence losing his place for the previous two to Tomer Hemed.

The Israeli had, to boot, six goals to his name in his last five appearances, but Hughton's intuition that the time was right to re-instate his talisman was rewarded by a trademark target man's display in the type of ultra-professional, all-round team performance that managers crave away from home comforts.

Murray messed the Barnsley central defenders about with his physical presence and aerial strength.

In a goalless first half there were several nearly moments. He was nearly always involved and would surely have buried a headed chance for Murphy (below). That is not the strongest aspect of the Scot's direct running game.

The Argus: An early handball by Lewis Dunk inside his own area when he was pushed - both offences missed by the officials - was the only real discomfort. The opening 45 minutes was an improvement on trailing, as Albion had in the previous three away games.

They just needed a more clinical edge in the final third than Murphy's prod wide immediately after the resumption when well-placed.

Sam Baldock, whose afternoon began with a warranted caution for simulation inside the box, provided it with a dipping drive from 20 yards from Anthony Knockaert's pass.

It was followed, 15 minutes later, by the decisive passage of play. Substitute Adam Hammill lifted Barnsley's best chance over the bar as soon as he came on.

Hammill was hen dispossessed inside his own half by the tenacious Baldock as he threatened a break-out. Knockaert danced as only the Frenchman can to set up Baldock again for a poke from close range which secured the first double of his Albion career and double figures for the season.

Knockaert has turned from goalscoring winger to goal provider. That is six in four games now after one in his previous 27 appearances.

Both Knockaert and Murphy might have stretched the margin in the final quarter of a contest which extinguished Barnsley's slim play-off hopes.

They are having a fine season after promotion and selling their main assets, Sam Winnall and Conor Hourihane, to Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa last month.

Not as fine as Albion, whose superiority in both boxes defined the match. A 50th win was a fitting way to mark Hughton's 100th Championship match in charge.

Maintaining the win-every-two-games ratio, with a sprinkling of draws, will be comfortably sufficient to restore the Premier League status his overall record for Albion and others deserves.