DAVID Flitcroft's return to Oakwell is certainly one to forget as his side were thumped 3-0 by his previous employers Barnsley.

Marley Watkins scored midway through the first half before Sam Winnall doubled the advantage 10 minutes into the second half.

The Tykes' skipper Conor Hourihane struck the killer blow on the 66th minute as the Shakers were sent back to Greater Manchester with no point - and they didn't even register a shot on target.

David Flitcroft made three changes from the FA Cup defeat to Hull last weekend. Kelvin Etuhu picked up a hamstring injury and is ruled out for two to three weeks, so Peter Clarke came in to partner Nathan Cameron at the back, which saw Reece Brown shift to right-back and Tom Soares plugged the gap in midfield.

Leon Clarke recovered from food poisoning and replaced Danny Rose, who was absent from the squad, and John O'Sullivan, who was cup tied last week, came in for Andrew Tutte on the right of midfield.

The hosts carried their momentum from Thursday nights victory which secured them a date at Wembley by peppering the Shakers' goal early on.

Skipper Conor Hourihane first dragged a shot wide from edge of box, before Adam Hammill blasted straight at Lawlor after some slick one-touch pass-and-move build up play.

Danny Mayor had Bury's first effort but he lifted it way over the bar from distance.

Barnsley dominated possession and struck the opener when Watkins nipped in between Peter Clarke and Lawlor to pinch the ball, turned and stuck a low drive which went in off the near-post on the 20th minute.

Sam Winnall sent a header over bar from right-wing cross five minutes later as the Tykes looked for breathing space.

The Shakers did muster a couple of half chances themselves towards the end of the first period.

Top goalscorer Leon Clarke drilled half volley over the bar from distance, before almost connecting with a dangerous O'Sullivan cross.

The on-loan Blackburn midfielder fizzed another low cross into the box on the stroke of half-time which evaded everybody and flashed wide of the post.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first as Hammill continued to caused havoc down the left. The winger made sure Lawlor was focused two minutes after the restart, forcing the goalkeeper into a smart save down to his right.

And 10 minutes later Hammill fed Winnall who drove a powerful low shot past the helpless Lawlor to double the lead.

Youth team graduate George Miller was handed his debut when brought off the bench to replace Brown on the hour mark, and the 17-year-old almost made an instant impact but his looping header landed on the roof of the net.

Leon Clarke spurned a decent opportunity to pull one back when Chris Hussey's pinpoint corner landed straight on the forwards head but he directed it wide of the post.

Hourihane was the beneficiary of Winnall's miskick in the 66th minute to turn Ashley Fletcher's cross home from close range to further extend the lead.

The game petered out thereafter as the hosts teased the visitors with the ball and they could have added a fourth but for a brilliant save from Lawlor right at the death to keep out substitute Josh Scowen's thunderous shot.