Wolves 2 (Henry 52, Olofinjana 78)
Barnsley 0
Second-half goals from Karl Henry and Seyi George Olofinjana gave Wolves their first home win since the beginning of November.
The margin of victory could have been much greater as Wanderers enjoyed most of the attacking play with Darren Potter missing a first-half penalty.
Michael Kightly returned to the team after his one match suspension to replace Rohan Ricketts, and Craig Davies came in for Leon Clarke in attack.
Barnsley kicked-off attacking the North Bank end but they were soon forced back by a stream of Wolves attacks.
Just five minutes had gone when Robert Atkinson pulled back Olofinjana as he burst clear. For a moment it looked as if the visiting defender was in for an early bath but the referee opted for the yellow card.
With nine minutes on the clock Potter struck a 25-yard shot that beat Nick Colgan in the visitors goal but smacked against the foot of the 
post before bouncing to safety.
A Daniel Nardiello free-kick ran harmlessly through to Matt Murray in a rare Barnsley threat and Wolves were soon back on the frontfoot with Henry crossing from the by-line after he had burst into the box forcing Colgan to punch clear.
Davies' low cross just eluded Olofinjana before it bounced behind off Bobby Hassell then Neil Austin came to Barnsley's rescue clearing off the line from Davies who had latched on to the loose ball after Colgan had parried Michael McIndoe's angled drive.
There was a moment of danger when Sam Togwell's shot took a deflection before bouncing narrowly wide before Nardiello's run ended with a tame shot that went wide.
Wolves were awarded a 28th minute penalty after Atkinson hauled down McIndoe but Colgan dived low to his left to turn Potter's spot kick around the post.
McIndoe just failed to get on the end of a Kightly centre and Colgan snatched the ball off the feet of Davies as the striker made a diagonal run into the box with Paul Reid snapping at his heels.
Austin was booked for blatantly obstructing Mark Little and Reid also saw the yellow card after he had tripped Davies.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 Barnsley 0
Seven minutes into the second-half Wolves finally took the lead they so richly deserved. Olofinjana slipped a pass into Henry's path and the skipper turned a defender before steering a low shot into the net (top picture).
There was almost a second moments later but Colgan got his body behind Davies' shot on the turn after Jackie McNamara had provided the centre. Then Kightly went on a run firing over the far angle after he had cut in from the right.
McNamara ventured forward and fired into Colgan's arms from 25-yards and Reid just managed to nick the ball away from Kightly who would otherwise have been in on goal as he chased Davies' through ball.
Having failed to turn their domination into goals, Wolves were almost made to pay the price when the ball broke to Atkinson whose volley looked a certain to level matters until Murray produced a brilliant reflex save.
Olofinjana eased any prospects of nervous moments in the closing stages as he grabbed Wolves' second goal in the 78th minute. Davies helped on Kightly's low cross and the Nigerian midfielder tucked the ball home from close range.
Two home players went into the book as the game approached its conclusion - McNamara for a late challenge on Reid and Jemal Johnson for dissent.
Just before the end Mark Davies came on for his first football of the campaign replacing Kightly who received a warm reception from the crowd as he left the field.
Wolves: Murray, Collins, Olofinjana, Breen, McNamara (Edwards 88), Henry (capt), Potter, C. Davies (Johnson 79), Little, McIndoe, Kightly (M. Davies 90).
Unused subs: Oakes, Clarke.
Bookings: McNamara (83 - foul), Johnson (90 - dissent).
Barnsley: Colgan, Hassell, P. Reid (capt) (Heckingbottom 85), Togwell, Hayes (Knight 85), Austin, Kay, Nardiello, Devaney, McCann (K. Reid 74), Atkinson.
Unused subs: Richards, Letheren.
Bookings: Atkinson (5 - foul), Austin (39 - obstruction), P. Reid (44 - foul).
Referee: A. Woolmer.
Attendance: 20,064.
Goldrush Lucky 4 Half-Time Draw v Barnsley: 6 - 7 - 9 - 18.
