Michael Duff's men had to settle for a point at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday.
In what was a fiesty and keenly-contested affair, neither side did enough to warrant a three-point return on the day.
Our hosts nearly made the perfect start to the game when Dapo Afolayan robbed James Norwood in midfield before slipping in Dion Charles who saw a curling effort turned behind by Reds stopper Brad Collins.
The Reds were breaking nicely on their opponents but the final ball was often missing, and the home side's pressure remained for much of the opening 45 without them really going close until the half was nearly up.
That chance came on 43 minutes as Jon Dadi Bodvarsson screwed an effort well wide from just eight yards out.
HALF-TIME: Bolton 0-0 Barnsley
Into the second period and Luca Connell spotted the goalkeeper well off his line and from 50 yards he tried to lob James Stafford, but the Trotters 'keeper saw it float over his crossbar.
Charles then went close for Bolton when he saw the ball hit him at the far stick, rather than connecting cleanly, and the effort landed a foot wide of goal.
Jack Aitchison scurried into space ahead of his marker and tested Stafford low down, who parried behind as Barnsley forged forward. And Devante Cole was similarly thwarted at the other side of goal by Stafford after a great cross found Cole with a yard of space.
The best opportunity of the game fell to Norwood, with just a few minutes remaining when he met a perfect left-wing cross from Nicky Cadden, but his bullet header flew just over the bar.
A point on the road, and a fourth consecutive away clean sheet in League One.
FULL-TIME: Bolton 0-0 Barnsley
Collins, Edwards, Cundy, Andersen, Kitching, Larkeche (Cadden), Connell (Phillips), Benson (Kane), Aitchison (Martin), Norwood, Cole.
Unused: Walton, Jalo, Moon.
