Barnsley 2 Middlesbrough 0

A FIRST half defensive mistake and a goal seconds from time condemned Boro to defeat at Oakwell, reports GORDON COX.

The Boro side showed two changes from that which lost at Millwall. Matthew Bates and Kris Boyd returned as Justin Hoyte and Leroy Lita dropped to the bench accompanied, for the first time in the league, by Richard Smallwood.

It meant a 100th appearance in the league for Boro for Julio Arca, but international clearance didn't arrive in time to allow Mickael Tavares to make the squad.

Barnsley were unchanged for the third game in a row, with Jim O'Brien on the bench having recovered from an injury that has kept him out of the reckoning since his summer move from Motherwell.

After a start that offered little by way of meaningful play, it was Boro who settled and started to look effective.

Arca, cheered by the travelling fans, carried on his good recent form, showing up well in both his defensive duties and forward-thinking link play.

The longer the game went on the better Boro became and with 14 minutes played they almost took the lead as Barry Robson crossed from the right and Scott McDonald headed against Luke Steele's left-hand post.

The visitors continued to look the more likely to make a breakthrough, although it was Barnsley who had two shots off target as they carved out half-chances.

It was Boro, with more space, time and possession who continued to impress and a cutting move had Barnsley chasing shadows and ended with a low shot on the turn from Boyd from the edge of the penalty that forced Steele to save at full stretch.

But, as so often happens when a team fails to score when on top, the opposition broke to take the lead.

It was nothing fancy, just a routine left-wing corner from Kieran Trippier that was headed in at the back post by Jason Shackell on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box with 27 minutes played.

Boro were denied a quick repost when a well-weighted ball over the top from Arca set up Boyd, but his lob which was intended to clear Steele was blocked at full stretch by the goalkeeper, who was only just in his box when making contact.

Entering the final five minutes of the half Boyd again came close when he turned well, but delayed a right-footed shot which was deflected for a corner, the delivery from which flashed through the penalty area, could have gone anywhere and was eventually thumped clear.

Shortly before added time Hugo Colace headed over, a chance too easily created for Boro's liking, before Tarmo Kink leant back and shot well over from the edge of the penalty area in added time.

Some Boro fans were frustrated enough to boo the side off but they were soon drowned out by others offering support.

Half-time: Barnsley 1 Middlesbrough 0

There was a chance in the opening minute of the half when the ball fell unexpectedly to Boyd just inside the penalty area as two Barnsley players collided, but the striker was taken by surprise and the ball ran loose.

That proved to be a rare chance as Boro struggled to get a foothold and Goran Lovre wasted a good opportunity to double the home side's tally when he shot wide deep inside the penalty area.

Gordon Strachan made positional changes to a midfield that was not functioning the way he wanted, bringing Robson into the centre, Kink to the right and Bailey to the left.

Boyd shot horribly wide from inside the penalty area as Boro gradually at last managed to achieve some meaningful possession. A Robson free-kick level with the left-hand edge of the penalty area was good but Kink's follow-up, wide from the edge of the penalty area, wasn't.

However, as Boro began to exercise more control, Kink despatched a left-footed drive from the edge of the box that was turned round for a corner.

Another effort from the Estonian a few minutes later was even better. He was fully 30 yards from goal when he cracked in a low, swerving effort that Steele could only parry away.

But injury forced him from the field towards the mid-point of the half and he was replaced by Halliday. Minutes later Robson brought a fingertip save from Steele with a well-struck, 22-yard free-kick.

Loud appeals for a penalty were turned away when Boyd cleared and a couple of half-hearted appeals came from Boro fans at the other end where desperation was creeping in.

Ironically, there were no appeals when David Wheater was dragged off possession inside the area.

Robson dropped to left-back when Kilgallon was replaced by Luke Williams.

In the closing minutes a Boyd flick almost fell to McDonald and gave the Australian a chance to earn Boro a point.

But an afternoon with too many "almosts" was rounded off three minutes into added on time and just 10 seconds from the end of the game, when Adam Hammill held off three challenges to smash in a second goal from 12 yards.

Barnsley: Steele; Foster, McEveley, Shackell (Capt to 59) (O'Brien 59), Hassell (Capt from 59), Trippier (Butterfield 90+2), Lovre, Hammill, Colace, Arismendi (Doyle 79), Gray. Unused subs: Preece (gk); Devaney, Hume, Neumann.

Middlesbrough: Steele; Bates, Wheater, McManus (Capt), Kilgallon (L Williams 80), Kink (Halliday 66), Robson, Bailey, Arca, McDonald, Boyd. Unused subs: Coyne (gk); Hoyte, Smallwood, Miller, Lita.

Referee: Keith Hill, Hertfordshire.

Bookings

Barnsley: Doyle, 82, foul.

Middlesbrough: McDonald, 72, dissent; Wheater 90+2, foul

Attendance: 11,767 (1,522 Boro)

Conditions: Cool, cloudy and breezy with occasional showers.

		Shots			Cards
	Goals	On target	Off target	Corners	Yellow	Red
Barnsley	2	5	7	6	1	0
Boro	0	7	5	5	2	0