Barnsley gave Premier League Everton a huge scare before losing a thriller in extra-time at Oakwell in the second round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.
Sam Winnall and Marley Watkins, with his first for the club, put the Reds 2-0 ahead at the break with two goals within six minute. Everton were level after an hour but Dan Crowley's opening career strike put the hosts back in front almost immediately.
Romelu Lukaku eventually made it 3-3 then got the final goal after Barnsley's heroic defender Marc Roberts found his own net in extra-time.
Everton's England defender John Stones started against his former club amid intense speculation over potential move to Chelsea after he reportedly submitted a transfer request. Another former Oakwell academy product Mason Holgate was on the bench after his move earlier in the month.
Barnsley kept the same team that drew 0-0 with Bradford in League One on Saturday.The cup-tied Kadeem Harris dropped off the bench as did James Bree and Jack Walton while they were replaced by Nick Townsend, Matty Templeton and George Maris.
Everton almost took the lead after eight minutes when their former trainee goalkeeper Adam Davies spilled a Kevin Mirallas shot but then recovered to make a fine save from Aiden McGeadys rebound.
Seconds late Winnall headed a Conor Hourihane cross just wide but it was not long until he opened the scoring.
On 22 minutes, Watkins swung in a cross from the right which was only half cleared then, after Conor Hourihane charged down an attempted clearance, Winnall finished brilliantly on the turn into the bottom left corner from 15 yards.
It was 2-0 less than six minutes later as Josh Scowen headed Roberts' cross back across goal and Watkins beat goalkeeper Joel Robles to scramble in from close range at the near post.
Barnsley defended heroically for the rest of the first half with Roberts making a brave block with his face from Romelu Lukaku's close range effort.
Everton made two changes at half-time as they brought on Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley, who fired over after 50 seconds. The visitors eventually pulled one back on 51 minutes when Nyatanga, under pressure from Lukaku, headed a cross straight to Mirallas who smashed the ball into the top left corner.
Davies made a fine one-on-one save to deny Deulofeu but was beaten when the Spaniard's cross was headed into the top left corner by Steven Naismith.
Barnsley got back in front within a minute as Reece Wabara ran onto a superb pass by Watkins on the right wing and picked out Crowley who fired into the bottom left corner from 12 yards out. Wabara was then the hero at the other end seconds later as he brilliantly cleared off the line following a run down the right by Deulofeu.
Lukaku eventually levelled with 12 minutes left when he got between the centre-backs to turn in a Deulofeu cross from close range.
Barkley, Naismith and Mirallas all came within inches of the goal but the tie went into extra-time at 3-3.
Roberts, who had been excellent throughout, accidentally stabbed in an own goal when trying to stop Lukaku turn in a Deulofeu cross.
Barnsley continued to threaten as Scowen forced a good saved and a great curling Hourihane effort struck the bar before he had a closer shot tipped over.
The Toffees eventually broke away and got a fifth goal as Barkley slipped Lukaku in to beat Davies.
