Barnsley recovered from three goals down in a crazy second half to claim a point at Stadium MK this afternoon.

After going ahead in the first half through James Norwood, our hosts stuck four goals in during the third quarter of the game before Michael Duff's men reacted to hit back thanks to another Norwood finish and a Max Watters brace.

With a handful of changes made to the starting lineup, fluency and fluidity were always likely to be an early issue, but the Reds grew into the first half, taking the lead with their first meaningful attack, whilst also having Harry Isted to thank for a couple of big saves.

The opening quarter lacked anything of note to report on, before Jonathan Leko looked to round Isted, with captain this afternoon, Liam Kitching getting across to block the eventual shot from the Dons forward.

Five minutes later and a Josh McEachran corner was swung in invitingly and Jack Tucker got above his marker to head towards the far corner but Isted clawed the ball away with his left hand to retain his clean sheet.

That brief pressure seemed to kick Barnsley into gear and their possession play saw them create a couple of openings that were let down by poor deliveries in the final third, but you could sense the building momentum. 

And on the half-hour, the Reds went ahead. Another tidy move in and around the box resulted in Kitching stinging the palms of Dons' 'keeper Jamie Cumming, and after Jordan Williams and Luke Thomas had recycled the opportunity, another effort was lashed towards goal by Herbie Kane, then cleverly diverted in by Norwood for his 11th goal of the campaign.

There was a chance for Barnsley to double their lead when another fine passing move saw Nicky Cadden in on the left, 14 yards out on the angle but his powerful drive was turned behind by Cumming. 

Our lead going into the interval was threatened with the final kick of the opening 45 when Leko again scampered into the box on a counter-raid but his bending effort was brilliantly parried by Isted away to his right.

HALF-TIME: MK Dons 0-1 Barnsley

It was a disastrous start to the second period for Duff's side. Bobby Thomas was adjudged to have tripped Mo Eisa inside the box, with the Dons forward sending Isted the wrong way from 12 yards to level the game up at 1-1.

Things went from bad to worse as just moments later the home side took the lead. Some great football cut through the Reds' backline and Sulley KaiKai's cut-back was bundled in on the line by Leko. 

The Reds were all over the place by now and Eisa added a third on the hour-mark as Barnsley midfielders failed to close their opposition down and the MK striker curled home spectacularly from 25 yards out, with no chance for Isted. 

Harry was smart to turn a Tennai Watson strike behind for a corner, but from that McEachran set-piece, O'Hora nodded home from six yards, with the Reds on the end of a potential hiding in Buckinghamshire. 

But a number of substitutions seemed to stem the flow, before Norwood tapped home after unselfish work from Watters to reduce the arrears. 

The likelihood of an epic comeback ramped up two minutes later as Barnsley made it 4-3 when Watters himself got on the scoresheet. The on-loan striker volleying in after a Kane centre deflected off Oli Shaw and into his path. 

It was nearly 4-4 when a vicious Cadden volley looked to be heading into the bottom corner only for Cumming to make an exceptional save to deny him.

But the turnaround was completed, with just five minutes remaining. Cadden with the low cross, Watters with the backheel at the near post, the ball was saved on the line but Max was on-hand to force home the equaliser. 

Reds fans in fancy dress could hardly believe it, and it was their side who did all they could during additional time to find a winner, but it ended level, as Barnsley picked up a point in their final away outing of the regular season.

FULL-TIME: MK Dons 4-4 Barnsley

Isted, Williams, Cundy (Cotter), B.Thomas, Kitching (c), Cadden, Kane, Benson (Russell), L.Thomas, Norwood (Shaw), Tedić (Watters).

Unused: Collins, Larkeche, Cole.