Barnsley’s outside chances of a play-off charge were all-but ended as they lost 1-0 at home to near neighbours Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
After a very dull first half, ex-Red Elliot Lee converted a penalty midway through the second.
It was a poor performance by the Reds who dropped to 13th in League One, ten points off the top six and eight clear of the relegation zone with nine games left after the two-week international break.
Conor Hourihane made two changes from the team that drew at home to Wigan in midweek. Adam Phillips and Tennai Watson came in for Mael de Givegney and Vimal Yoganathan while Tom Bradshaw was out injured. Reyes Cleary started up front with David McGoldrick while Scott Banks played on the left wing and Adam Phillips on the right. Jack Shepherd moved to centre-back with Watson on the left of the back four.
Very little happened in the opening 15 minutes other than Luca Connell shooting wide from just outside the box. Donny’s Glenn Middleton saw a long-range effort easily saved by Owen Goodman then, minutes later, a Middleton corner was headed off target by Jack Senior.
McGoldrick saw a long-range shot easily caught by the goalkeeper then, at the other end, Shepherd slipped and almost gifted the ball to Brandon Hanlan but managed to touch it back to Goodman when on the floor.
Banks was replaced at the break by Jono Bland with Barnsley reverting to one up front and then starting the second half brightly.
McGoldrick dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box after poor defending by Jamie Sterry then Patrick Kelly played in Cleary on the left of the box but his shot from a tight angle was easily saved.
The penalty was awarded when Corey O’Keeffe pulled back visiting substitute Hakeeb Adelakun from a right-wing cross. Lee converted from the spot.
Doncaster appealed for another penalty when Shepherd tackled Brandon Hanlan in the box, then Robbie Gotts shot well wide from distance.
Barnsley did nothing in response until the 90th minute when Kelly’s flick from a low right-wing cross was brilliantly tipped out of the bottom left corner by Thimothee Lo-Tutala.
Barnsley (4-4-2): Goodman; O’Keeffe, O’Connell, Shepherd, Watson (Ogbeta 83mins); Banks (Bland HT), Phillips (Yoganathan 72), Connell, Kelly, Cleary (Lennon 72); McGoldrick.
Unused: Flavell, Roberts, de Gevigney.
Yellow cards: O’Connell.
Doncaster (4-5-1): Lo-Tutala; Sterry, Pearson, Byrne, Senior; Gibson, Gotts, Bailey, Lee (Clifton 80), Middleton (Adelakun 60); Hanlan.
Unused: Clark, Maxwell, McGrath, Broadbent, Close.
Yellow cards: Gotts, Lo-Tutala.
Goals: Lee 65 (pen).
