Reds 0
Birmingham 2 (Johnstone 45, Kelly 56)
The Reds did have their fair share of chances in a tight contest on the Oakwell Academy pitch.
After Jean-Yves M'voto flashed a header wide in the first 10 minutes, George Maris had the best chance of the half for the Reds on the half-hour mark.
When Nana Boakye-Yiadom showed great strength and pace to burst into the box from the right, his pull back was lashed at by Maris inside the area with the goal at his mercy but he failed to connect with the ball.
On 42 minutes Reece Brown saw his vicious shot sail straight down the throat of Adam Davies following a good switch of play from Guy Moussi, but the visitors did take the lead three minutes later.
A low delivery from Hancox from the left was turned home by Johnstone just seconds before the break to deflate the home side.
After the break Barnsley responded with a great move that was started off by George Smith on the left on 48 minutes. The full-back's low cross was attacked well by Abbott at the near post but a last-ditch tackle thwarted a certain equaliser.
But the Blues doubled their lead on 56 minutes when a fairly poor corner from Olly Lee was pounced upon by Nay Kelly, with the defender hammering in from inside the six-yard box.
The Reds enjoyed the better chances of the remaining half-an-hour as George Maris had Doyle scrambling across his line with a curling effort that went just inches wide.
Nana Boakye-Yiadom then went through one-on-one but was denied by Doyle 11 minutes before the end to keep a clean sheet and secure the three points for Birmingham.
Reds: Davies, Towner, Smith, Cowgill, M'voto (Holgate 46), Abbott, Digby, Maris, McKnight, Boakye-Yiadom, Knight.
