Christophe Berra and David McGoldrick were on target in the 81st and 84th minutes as Town came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Barnsley. Chris O’Grady's 12th minute strike saw the Tykes into a half-time lead and sub Tomasz Cywka’s 74th minute freekick added to their advantage before the Blues’ late fightback.
Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with new signing Paul Green amongst the subs. Striker Paul Taylor made the trip but was sent home by the physio prior to the match as he is suffering with an abscess.
In a strong, swirling wind, the game’s first chance fell to the home side in the sixth minute. Stephen Hunt was caught in possession not far outside the Town area by Stephen Dawson, who found O’Grady behind the Blues backline but onside inside the box. The ex-Rochdale man stabbed well wide and will feel he at least should have tested Dean Gerken in the Blues goal.
McGoldrick struck Town’s first shot through to Barnsley keeper Luke Steele from 25 yards in the 10th minute but he claimed comfortably.
With the match still to settle into a pattern, the wind and difficult surface made mistakes common place, the home side took the lead in the 12th minute.
Town had failed to clear an earlier threat and O’Grady twisted and turned on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot across the motionless - and probably unsighted - Gerken and into the corner of the net. It was the Tykes' top scorer's 11th of the season.
The Blues were within inches of getting back on terms in the 18th minute from a freekick 25 yards out after Dawson had fouled Hunt. Aaron Cresswell — who scored a freekick in last year’s corresponding fixture — slammed his strike beyond Steele to his left but off his post. Town subsequently won two corners but were unable to create an opening.
McCarthy’s men were starting to get on top and in the 23rd minute threatened again when Hunt sent in a cross from the right but neither Daryl Murphy nor Frank Nouble was able to add the final touch in the six-yard box.
Jim O’Brien saw a shot blocked at the other end, before Gerken was unceremoniously clattered as he punched a cross away from goal. On the half hour, McGoldrick scuffed a shot well wide from the edge of the box.
There was a big scare for the Blues in the 35th minute when Jack Hunt sent in a dangerous low cross from the right but O’Grady and strike partner Nick Proschwitz were unable to get in clean shots at goal.
On 39 Nouble won the ball from O’Grady midway inside the Barnsley half but scuffed a weak 25-yard shot to Steele, who was yet to be troubled, aside from Cresswell’s freekick.
But the Blues were looking the more dangerous side as the half moved into its closing stages, Murphy just being crowded out on the edge of the six-yard box having been found by Hunt.
Then, shortly before the whistle, from the second of two corners, Tommy Smith headed powerfully down but wide when he will believe he should have hit the target.
Town could have few complaints at the scoreline at the break with the visitors having played the better football and created the game’s two best two chances in open play. The Blues were perhaps fortunate that O’Grady had spurned his first opportunity, while the goal was one which looked very preventable.
Other than Cresswell’s excellent freekick, the Blues had failed to test Tykes’ keeper Steele, despite having a fair amount of the ball in the final third.
Barnsley switched the ineffective Brek Shea for Cywka at the break, Four minutes after the restart, Hunt made a strong run through the middle of the Tykes’ defence before being forced off the ball. A minute later, Jay Tabb shot over from the edge of the box from Cresswell’s pass.
On 51 Paul Anderson replaced Nouble, taking up the right-sided role in a four-man midfield, then moments later, after a corner had been cleared to the edge of the box, Cole Skuse hit a low shot just wide.
Town were beginning to look more dangerous and on 54 Skuse went close again when Hunt crossed from the left, having been sent away by a quick McGoldrick throw. Keeper Steele got to it ahead of Murphy and the ball fell to Skuse eight yards out but under pressure the midfielder’s strike flew well over. The former Bristol City man will feel he ought to have opened his Town goals account.
The Blues were looking a much improved side since the break and in the 64th minute again went close to getting back on terms. Hunt crossed low from the left and Anderson slammed the ball just wide at the near post.
Two minutes later Steele saved a 25-yard Murphy strike, then did well to stop Anderson’s effort from the rebound from a tight angle on the right. McGoldrick subsequently scraped a shot wide from the 18-yard line.
In the 70th minute, with rain by now falling heavily, Tom Kennedy headed a Cresswell cross from the left away ahead of Murphy. From the resultant corner, Steele saved Smith’s header at the far post from a tight angle.
New signing Paul Green replaced Tabb in the 73rd minute as Barnsley prepared to take the freekick on the left from which they scored their second goal. Cywka hammered a 25-yard shot which deflected off McGoldrick before beating Gerken.
The goal was harsh on the Blues who had been the better side since half-time, although the Tykes had defended well and Steele had made one or two important saves.
Murphy shot wide, then in the 80th minute sent over a deep cross to the far post, which was nodded behind. From the corner, a Barnsley defender forced Steele to tip wide.
From that flagkick, Town finally pulled a goal back. Smith headed Anderson’s right-wing corner goalwards, O’Brien blocked on the line but Berra hooked the loose ball into the roof of the net from a couple of feet to grab his third goal of the season.
The Blues were within an inch or so of getting level in the 83rd minute when Murphy crossed from the left and Hunt’s flick just flew past the far post. Anything more on the ball and Town would have been on terms.
However, the equaliser was only a minute away. McGoldrick was brought down by Martin Cranie 25 yards out towards the left. Cresswell tapped the ball to the Town top scorer, who lashed his 16th goal of the season past Steele via a deflection.
The Blues went looking for the winner and in the final minute of scheduled time debutant Green came close to grabbing it. Hunt volleyed back across goal from the left and the ball fell to the on-loan Leeds man, whose effort on goal from eight yards was blocked.
With the game in five minutes of injury time O’Brien hit a low shot which failed to trouble Gerken, but neither side was able to claim a winner, with the Blues by now appearing happy with a point, before referee Darren Bond blew his whistle.
While Barnsley had been the better side before the break, their second goal had come somewhat against the run of play with the Blues improving in the second half.
Town hadn’t deserved to be two goals behind and once Berra had netted his goal the momentum firmly swung towards the visitors and on the overall balance of play the Blues were worth the point they claimed via McGoldrick’s 16th of the campaign.
The result and six-placed Reading’s 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday leaves the Blues in seventh but now only three points from the play-off zone.
Barnsley: Steele, Hunt (Woods 73), Ramage, Cranie, Dawson, O’Brien, Jennings, Shea (Cywka 46), O’Grady, Proschwitz (Lawrence 77). Subs: Turner, Nyatanga, McCourt, Pedersen.
Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Tabb (Green 74), Skuse, Hunt, Nouble (Anderson 51), McGoldrick, Murphy. Subs: Loach, Mings, Richardson, Edwards, Wordsworth, Green. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 9,929 (Town: 817).