Barnsley were beaten at the death by Bristol City despite having a hatful of chances against Lee Johnson's men.
Head Coach, Gerhard Struber had made two changes from last time out, with the injured Bambo Diaby replaced by Kenny Dougall and Brad Collins filling in for the poorly Sami Radlinger. However, during the warm-up, full-back Clarke Oduor also picked up a knock and so Ben Williams started instead.
Both sides began by feeling each other out at a cold Ashton Gate and after a couple of earlier corners that came to nothing for our hosts, a third from Niclas Eliasson was crashed against his own crossbar by Jacob Brown.
On 10 minutes, the Reds had their own moment when Marcel Ritzmaier's delicate chipped through-ball found Chaplin inside the box and the in-form striker twice saw shots blocked by last-ditch defending, one looked to have been stopped by the hand of Ashley Williams.
Soon after that reprieve for the Robins, an excellent 40-yard Luke Thomas switch from the right flank found Ritzmaier at the back stick, left-hand side, and the Austrian fired a low ball in hard towards the arriving Alex Mowatt whose first-time strike was saved low down by Robins stopper Dan Bentley.
On 24 minutes it was again nearly 1-0 when Mowatt's corner was headed back across goal by Aapo Halme and Chaplin's acrobatic scissors kick was turned over the bar by defender Adam Webster!
The game became scrappy before the interval with no further chances of note as the first half ended goalless.
HALF-TIME: Bristol City 0-0 Barnsley
The chances kept coming for the Reds upon the restart, but they continued to fail to put them away when presented with the goal in front of them.
Chaplin saw an effort deflect wide after Thomas had slipped him in on a quick Reds breakaway, then Mowatt's firm cross low into the near post was sent goalwards by Chaplin but the ball nicked off Thomas and that sent the shot just half-a-yard wide. So close.
On the hour-mark, the home side conjured up a shocking miss of their own when Eliasson blazed over unmarked at the back post. That was a warning sign..
The Reds nearly found the scoring touch at last when Ritzmaier saw a gentle lob with his weaker foot come back off the City bar, before again, Bristol City blasted over the bar when Famara Diedhiou was free at the front post.
All of Ritzmaier, Brown and Mowatt shot high or wide as the Reds ended the game well on top, but on the break, Dasilva's cross found Eliasson at the far post and this time the Swede finished well to give the hosts three points.
Harsh on the Reds, but not taking their chances costs them and they remain in the relegation zone.
FULL-TIME: Bristol City 1-0 Barnsley
Collins, J.Williams, Andersen, Halme, B.Williams (Ludewig), Dougall, Mowatt, Thomas (Simoes), Ritzmaier, Brown, Chaplin.
Unused: Walton, Sibbick, Schmidt, Palmer, Styles.
