WITH Christmas fast approaching the Reds needed a gift to really get their Championship campaign off and running.

The thought they had it at Oakwell in the first week of December as Jimmy Kebe's dismissal gave them a great chance to rock Reading. It wasn't to be as Brynjar Gunnarsson grabbed a winner for the promotion-chasing Royals late on.

Barnsley made the long trip to Swansea on December 9 looking to bounce back from the Reading defeat. Jon Macken and Jamal Campbell-Ryce looked to have put the Reds in a match winning position but a late collapse allowed Jason Scotland to net twice and snatch an undeserved share of the spoils.

A visit to promotion hopefuls Wolves was next on the agenda and it all went wrong in the first half as Bobby Hassell put the ball past Heinz Muller to give the home side the advantage while Kevin Foley added a second to put a little gloss on the result late on.

Barnsley needed to bounce back and the visit of Plymouth Argyle gave the Reds that opportunity when Simon Walton was sent off midway through the first half. Anderson de Silva and Campbell-Ryce netted the goals to salvage three much-needed points.

A Boxing Day trip to Burnley got off to the best possible start when Jamie Cureton hit the back of the net early on. Gavin McCann levelled before Campbell-Ryce, with a little help from McCann's boot, snatched the winner in the second half.

Cureton was again on target as Barnsley closed out 2008 with a point at home against Preston. The on loan striker opened the scoring before a very, very controversial free kick late on levelled things. The Reds ended 2008 in 16th position.

WATCH AND LISTEN TO BARNSLEY WORLD !!! CLICK HERE FOR MORE

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE LINK TO OUR MOBILE INTERNET SITE OR VISIT BARNSLEY.WAP.COM ON YOUR PHONE'S BROWSER

SIGN UP TO OUR OFFICIAL SMS SERVICE BY TEXTING CLUB BARNS ON TO 88442 AND DON'T MISS OUT ON A THING.

BET WITH THE REDS AND EARN MONEY FOR BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB WITH EVERY SINGLE STAKE PLACED!!!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST COMMERCIAL INFORMATION