Danny Wilson admitted Barnsley are 'very lucky to be in the hat' after a disappointing performance in a goalless draw at home to non-league Chester in the second round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Conference club Chester hit the bar, had two efforts cleared off the line, saw a goal disallowed and forced Ross Turnbull into two fine saves.
Barnsley had plenty of chances themselves, especially towards the end, but it was not much of an improvement of their recent poor League One form and they were booed off at half-time and full-time. The third round draw is tomorrow at 7.30pm on BBC Two replay is due to take place on the week commencing December 15.
Danny Wilson made four changes from the side that drew with Doncaster five days earlier. James Bailey and Devante Cole were not in the squad and were replaced by Brad Abbott and Kane Hemmings. Reece Brown and Mason Holgate, the full-backs in midweek, dropped to the bench as captain Martin Cranie returned from suspension and Joe Dudgeon from injury.
Kane Hemmings tested Chester goalkeeper Jon Worsnop on 15 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box after good work from Leroy Lita.
Barnsley were dealt a blow five minutes later when centre-back Peter Ramage pulled up injured and had to be replaced by Brown who went to right-back with Cranie moving central.
Brown was immediately tested by Chester winger Craig Mahon who burst into the box from the left wing and had a shot which was deflected and Barnsley 'keeper Ross Turnbull had to turn into onto his crossbar. Barnsley began to look slightly more dangerous with Trotta having a few more shots but struggled to penetrate the visitors who then came close again in first half stoppage time.
Former Barnsley man John Rooney swang in a corner from the left which flicked the top of Conor Hourihane's head and was headed for the bottom right corner before Dudgeon cleared off the line.
The hosts did not start the second half any better as, four minutes in, Brown gifted the ball to Mahon who burst into the box, around Cranie and was denied by Turnbull whose strong left-hand turned the shot around the right post.
Barnsley then enjoyed a decent spell with Conor Hourihane setting up half-chances for Trotta and Hemmings. Hourihane had to be aware at the other end to clear Kieran Charnock's headed off the line on 75 minutes.
Seconds later, Heneghan put the ball in the back off the net but he was clearly offside. Hourihane had the chance to put Barnsley through when Trotta's excellent pass put him one-on-one with Worsnop but the visiting 'keeper made an outstanding save with his left hand.
Hemmings then had a glorious injury-time chance as, after Worsnop parried Trotta's shot, he got the rebound ten yards out but shot into the ground and Matt Brown cleared off the line.
