Barnsley suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.

Cameron Brannagan’s early penalty was added to by Jordan Williams’ own goal after the break, while Tyler Goodrham struck late on as the Reds pushed for a leveller following Devante Cole’s header.

Despite making a bright start with Adam Phillips forcing a decent save from James Beadle, we soon fell behind when Brannagan converted a spot-kick after Marcus Browne had been felled in the area.

Looking for a reaction, Cole worked space in the box and teed up strike partner Andy Dallas, but the Scotsman could only skew wide as he attempted to find the far corner.

Nicky Cadden was next to try his luck as he jinked his way into the box and bent a looping shot narrowly over the bar.

The visitors still posed a threat on the counter-attack, however, and a quick break almost resulted in them doubling their lead through Billy Bodin, while Stanley Mills could only scuff an effort straight at Liam Roberts.

Mainly restricted to strikes from distance, Phillips almost squirmed one under Beadle who somehow managed to shovel it around the post before Cadden fizzed another fierce drive high and wide as we ended the half strongly.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-1 Oxford United

Nine minutes after the restart, Oxford had their second when Mills surged down the right flank past scores of red shirts and his low cross was turned into his own net by Williams.

It should have been three midway through the half when Liam Kitching was dispossessed by Mark Harris, who squared for Bodin, but Roberts was there with a flying save to thwart the U’s forward.

Shortly after, though, we halved the deficit as Cadden’s inswinging corner was met by Cole, who planted his header home to net his fourth goal of the campaign.

That seemed to spark a bit of life into the Reds, and substitute Aiden Marsh came agonisingly close to finding a leveller he lashed Kitching’s knock down inches wide with the stretching Cole unable to prod in at the far post.

At the other end, Roberts had to be at his best to deny Stephan Negru, whose powerful header looked destined for the top corner, only for the stopper to superbly tip over the bar.

Cole had a great opportunity to equalise when we broke at pace, with Jon Russell playing a precision through ball, but our forward saw his effort blocked at the near post by Beadle.

We would go on to rue our missed chances, as Oxford sealed the victory when Goodrham raced clear and slotted in from close range.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-3 Oxford United

REDS XI: Roberts (GK), Williams, de Gevigney (Cotter, 38), Łopata, Kitching (C), Cadden, Phillips (Russell, 66), Kane, Styles (Marsh, 66), Cole, Dallas (Watters, 65).

Not used: Killip (GK), Shepherd, Nejman.

OXFORD XI: Beadle (GK), Long, Brown, Moore (C), Mills (Goodrham, 61), Brannagan, Harris (O’Donkor, 71), Bodin (Stevens, 71), Browne (Rodrigues, 27), McGuane, Negru.

Not used: Eastwood (GK), McEachran, Smith.