Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane admitted that his players "weren't great" as they squandered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Reading in League One at the SCL Stadium.
Reading took the lead in the 32nd minute through debutant defender Haydon Roberts but in-form Tykes striker David McGoldrick tapped in his third goal in two games six minutes later.
Barnsley went ahead in the 67th minute via Adam Phillips' heavily deflected 20-yard shot only for the Royals' top scorer Jack Marriott to deny the visitors a rare away victory with an 84th-minute leveller.
"It was a game of very few chances and, to be honest, I didn't think that we were great today," Hourihane said.
"Reading are a decent side but I was a little disappointed, I felt that we never quite got going in the game.
"In general play, I don't think that we played with the ball as much as we would like and how we have showed this season.
"We were pinned back a lot defensively by Reading, even though I thought that we defended our box quite well and limited their chances.
"But we didn't create many chances, either. It was a game of very fine margins and there was not much in it. A draw was probably a fair result."
Of McGoldrick's goal, from a Reyes Cleary cross, Hourihane said: "It was really good goal from David. To be honest, it was probably the only bit of quality that we had in the first half.
"It was also great for Reyes to get another assist, that's what we expect from both of them
"We got into the final third a bit but we never quite made the most of the opportunities that we had.
"I was disappointed that we didn't hold on to the lead but also disappointed with the overall performance as well.
"I said to the lads that in the last couple of matches that we've had, against Wigan and Blackpool and also today, that what we're doing is at least we're sticking in games to the end.
"And that's got to be a positive."
The Reds remain in 15th place in League One – nine points off the play-off places – but still have multiple games in hand over all of the teams above them.
"Time is running out in the transfer window," Hourihane said.
"Whether something happens in the next three or four days, or the next seven or eight days, it's obviously going to have to be done quickly in order to get some bodies in.
"We've got targets, we've got areas we're looking at."
Centre back Jack Shepherd had to be replaced in the 22nd minute against Reading due to injury, with Mael de Gevigney coming on.
"Jack just took a bit of a heavy knock, we think and we hope," Hourihane said.
"He's getting assessed as we speak so we'll get a clearer picture over the next couple of days.
"I don't think it's anything major but he took a bang to his knee. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that that's all it is."
