The Reds were undone here at Oakwell by two second half Ipswich goals.
Barnsley were beaten this afternoon in their opening home game of the Sky Bet Championship season, thanks to a second half Tractor Boys fightback.
Goals after the break from subs David McGoldrick and Martyn Waghorn overturned the Reds first half strike by Tom Bradshaw.
Paul Heckingbottom had brought Adam Jackson back into central defence, whilst elsewhere Jason McCarthy and Ryan Hedges were given a start. After his brace in midweek, Bradshaw was given the lone striker role as Hecky went with a five-man midfield.
The Reds came flying out of the blocks, a lovely pass with the outside of his boot by Matty Pearson was taken in his stride by Adam Hammill and his cross fell to George Moncur whose shot was fumbled by the 'keeper, but Bartosz Bialkowski saved the Bradshaw header point blank.
Six minutes in and Bradshaw spun superbly in the box before lashing in a volley that Bialkowski got down well to, and brilliantly turned behind for a corner.
It had been a great start for Hecky's side; incessant Reds attacks but still no goal...
On 15 minutes the goal arrived.
Bradshaw nodded home at the far post following an acrobatic effort by Hedges which fell into his path. This was Bradshaw's third goal in as many games, and the Reds were looking in control of this particular encounter.
The Reds kept up the pressure and Moncur fired a superb low effort through a sea of bodies but Jordan Spence was there to clear off the line. He stabbed it off the line at the near post with it looking all the world like 2-0 Barnsley.
The game became scrappy from there on in, with Mick McCarthy's side barely registering a threat other than one or two corners that fizzed across goal.
Hecky's men went in at the break, no doubt thinking 'job done'. It had been a fantastic first half showing. But only one goal to show for their efforts.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich Town
The Ipswich Gaffer brought on McGoldrick and Waghorn at the break and those two forwards made the difference.
On 51 minutes McGoldrick burst through the Reds defence before seeing his shot smothered brilliantly by Adam Davies one-on-one.
The Barnsley defence were struggling after 10 minutes of the second half and the goal when it came wasn't a surprise.
Some good work down the left and a cross was stood up to the far post where McGoldrick was unmarked in acres of space, he powered home a half-volley beyond the helpless Davies.
Ike Ugbo soon replaced Bradshaw as Heckingbottom looked for a positive reaction.
After 69 minutes Brad Potts saw a low and powerful effort on the angle of the box saved with ease by Bialkowski.
And then straight down the other end, Reds hearts were broken.
Joe Williams was robbed of the ball on halfway and Waghorn broke at pace, the defenders backed off which allowed the striker to pick his spot, firing low beyond Davies to give the visitors the lead.
Stefan Payne (78') and debutant Harvey Barnes (80') were introduced, for Hammill and Hedges respectively.
But the closest the Reds came to finding an equaliser was when Barnes curled an effort from the angle of the box which looked destined for the corner, only for Bialkowski to again deny Barnsley with a great diving save.
FULL TIME: Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich Town
Reds XI: Davies (GK); McCarthy, MacDonald (c), Jackson, Pearson; J.Williams, Moncur, Potts; Hammill (Barnes 80'), Bradshaw (Ugbo 59'), Hedges (Payne 78').
Unused: Townsend (GK), Pinnock, Mowatt, Bird.
Att: 12,009 (870 Away fans)
