He said, "We're very lucky to still be in the Cup. I know we both had chances but Chester played very well today.
"Our passing wasn't as good as it can be. We got into some great positions and situations but it flittered away.
"Overall with the chances we had and the chances they had, was it a fair result? Maybe. The good thing is we're still in the Cup.
"For the first 30 minutes they were on the front foot. It was a big scale to try and get and it was an incentive for them. We had to raise our game just the same but we never got going.
"We kept sticking the ball in the final third and it kept coming back at us.
"The only good thing is we're going back to Chester and we know what's in front of us. We know if we're not at our best, we could go out of the Cup.
"They came to win the game. I said before the game that they're a good side. They get underestimated because they aren't sure about them. We knew it was going to be tough but until it's in front of you and you see it, that's when you believe it.
"We know we've got a tough game at Chester.
"We huffed and puffed and tried getting our full-backs down the pitch but we didn't get going."
The Barnsley boss revealed James Bailey (foot) and Devnate Cole (illness) missed out through injury and striker Sam Winnall will be absent for 'about four weeks.'