DARYL DO NICELY

Mowatt & Dike too hot to handle

- Ross Heppenstall

ALEX MOWATT celebrated his Championship Player of the Month award by firing his rampant Barnsley side a step closer to the play-offs.

On Friday the Tykes skipper, 26, was crowned the division’s best performer for March and he took centre stage again yesterday at Oakwell.

With the visitors proving a tough nut to crack, former Leeds star Mowatt curled in an inswinging corner from the right flank which flew all the way over hapless Marcus Bettinelli and into the Boro goalkeeper’s net.

Mowatt’s 62nd-minute strike was added to 15 minutes from time when American striker Daryl Dike dived to head home a second.

Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael, whose side are now five points clear of seventh-placed Reading with just five games remaining, said: “I think Alex is finding some great form at the moment.