The Reds were beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City under the lights on Tuesday night.
Head Coach Daniel Stendel made two changes from Saturday’s draw with Charlton Athletic, as Alex Mowatt returned from injury to replace Cauley Woodrow, whilst winger Mamadou Thiam was handed his first league start of the season in place of Malik Wilks.
As the floodlights lit up St. Andrew's, the Reds looked bright in the opening exchanges, as Luke Thomas hit an early sighter at goal, before a penalty appeal was waved away when Bambo Diaby went down under a challenge in the area.
However, Birmingham grew into the game, and with the half hour mark approaching, former Reds defender, Marc Roberts directed a free header wide.
Fran Villalba then forced Sami Radlinger into an acrobatic save, as he superbly tipped the midfielder’s effort over the crossbar a few minutes later.
There was one minute added on at the end of the half, but very little to separate the two sides, as we entered the break with no score on the board.
HALF-TIME: BIRMINGHAM CITY 0-0 BARNSLEY.
As the game got back underway for the second half, the Reds had an early chance when Cam McGeehan won possession high up the field and burst into the box, but as he pulled the ball back to the edge of the area, Ivan Sunjic was there to divert it behind.
On 65 minutes, Lukas Jutkiewicz stole the ball in a good area and ran beyond the Reds backline, but Radlinger timed his challenge to perfection and stripped the striker of possession before he had time to shoot.
However, just moments later, Jutkiewicz did find a breakthrough when he headed past Radlinger from a Wes Harding cross.
The Reds looked to get back into the game, as Stendel made a double substitution, with Patrick Schmidt coming on to make his debut in place of Thiam and Wilks replaced Bähre.
Although, it was Birmingham who were able to double their advantage in the 76thminute, when Alvaro Gimenez produced a fine chip to beat Radlinger.
Jutkiewicz looked to get in again, but Radlinger denied him a second, before McGeehan had the final chance of the game as the goalkeeper saved his shot.
FULL-TIME: BIRMINGHAM CITY 2-0 BARNSLEY.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Birmingham City: Camp, Harding, Pedersen, Roberts, Jutkiewicz (Bailey, 89), Dean (C), Villalba (Gardner, 74), Gimenez (Montero, 80), Davis, Sunjic, Seddon.
Substitutes not used: Stockdale, Crowley, Medina.
Barnsley: Radlinger, B. Williams, Diaby, Anderson, McGeehan, Bähre (C) (Wilks, 72), Chaplin, Thomas (Halme, 83), Sibbick, Thiam (Schmidt, 72), Mowatt.
Substitutes not used: Collins, Green, Styles, Pinillos.
