Tom Soares scored one and helped create another as two second half goals kept Palace in touch with the top six.

Midfielder Soares, voted man of the match by fans, broke the deadlock shortly after the break, before his header was helped into the path for James Scowcroft to bag his 100th career goal.  

Although his men were impressive in the 1-1 draw at West Brom on Wednesday night, Palace manager Neil Warnock decided to make a couple of changes for the home game.

The injured Victor Moses was replaced by Clinton Morrison in attack, and Sean Scannell was preferred to Carl Fletcher as Warnock opted for a more attacking line-up.

With Palace beginning the day only two points away from the play-offs and with Family Day providing excellent pre-match entertainment from a Madonna tribute act and the Kukri Allstarz dancers, there were high spirits all around Selhurst Park as the game kicked off.  

Clinton Morrison was one of the game's early bright spots, showing individual skill to take on a couple of players before being muscled off the ball. But he persisted, and then charged down a clearance from goalkeeper Luke Steele that, unfortunately for Palace, finished wide of the post.

On 15 minutes, Soares' cross was well won in the air by Scowcroft but Steele made a diving save to deny the Eagles striker his 100th career goal.

Two minutes later, it was Palace who had a lucky escape. Barnsley skipper Brian Howard's right-sided corner was headed goalbound by Kayode Odejayi. Soares, standing on the far post, cleared off the line but it fell again to Odejayi, who somehow cleared the crossbar with his rebound from close range.

Chances were generally sporadic despite Scannell's zippiness. The 17-year-old showed a quick turn of heels to open up the Tykes defence on the half-hour, but lashed his shot wide of the far post.

The visitors had an opening on 34 minutes when dengerman Odeyaji got goalside of Jose Fonte and squared for Istvan Ferenczi who miscued from close range, allowing Julian Speroni to scramble the ball to safety.

The first half petered out to a disappointing conclusion but the polar opposite happened at the beginning of the second period.

Less than 50 seconds into the half, Soares seized on a chink in the visitors' defensive hole and rifled home a low shot into the corner of the net. 

Four minutes later, Macken had an opportunity to grab a swift equaliser for Barnsley but his shot was soft and straight at Speroni.

But it was Palace who were closer to getting the next goal. On 55 minutes, Shaun Derry's shot was glanced onto the post by Ben Watson, who was whiskers away from scoring his second goal in three games.

Two minutes later a sliced shot by Scannell fell into the path of James Scowcroft, whose lunge to goal was unconvincingly parried away by Steele.

The game went into a quiet spell that was rudely interrupted by Watson's piledriver that flew over the bar.

A minute later, Scowcroft nodded for Morrison to volley, but Steele dived to his right to save well. 

The provider turned goalscorer to seal the game with eight minutes remaining. Matt Lawrence's header was flicked on by Soares into the path of Morrison, who touched it towards Scowcroft. There was still a lot to do but Scowcroft turned and forced in with his weaker left foot to grab his 100th career goal.  

Chants of "there's only one Neil Warnock' rung around Selhurst Park and the feel-good mood was increased by the arrival of Ashley-Paul Robinson, who replaced Scannell with four minutes left.

Robinson promptly went on a promising eye-catching run down the right which, combined with a debut for Ben Kudjodji in injury time, suggested that Palace have a bright future, as well as an exciting present.