BARNSLEY 2 CITY 1

IT’S weird to think that only two seasons ago City went over a year unbeaten at home.

We used to moan about too many draws but Valley Parade was never breached.

How fans must yearn for those days during these perilous times when a stalemate is now heralded as a victory.

Meanwhile, Barnsley are building their own fortress at Oakwell – where they have now gone 15 games without defeat stretching back to March.

It’s an impressive home run that City were unable to dent tonight as their interest in the Checkatrade Trophy came to an end, despite striking the first blow.

Barnsley had inflicted the first of City’s 13 league defeats in chastening fashion in August.

But their team tonight was unrecognisable from that one-sided Valley Parade outing. Only left back Dani Pinillos remained as Daniel Stendel changed their entire team from the weekend FA Cup win.

David Hopkin switched six from the Aldershot water ride – with starts for Jim O’Brien and Danny Devine, who was on full back duty. Sherwin Seedorf also got a rare outing to provide some width for lone striker Kai Bruenker.

Seedorf won an immediate corner – but a mistake from Devine allowed Barnsley to sweep to the other end where Jordan Williams fired into the swathe of empty seats.

City, needing to win by two to sneak into the next round, were not to be denied on eight minutes as they hit the front with a well-worked goal.

Seedorf’s driving run created the danger, Bruenker feeding it off to David Ball who cut in to curl his first for the club into the far corner.

Barnsley looked shocked to fall behind and almost responded within seconds, George Moncur rattling a drive past the post that many in the main stand thought was in.

Jacob Brown’s flick from a Ryan Hedges corner again threatened but Anthony O’Connor saved City’s bacon in front of goal.

Barnsley’s reaction had been a strong one - City had barely had an attack since scoring - and it was no surprise when they did level on 28 minutes.

Hedges sent Pinillos away with a lovely flick round the corner and the defender’s drilled cross was converted by Moncur.

This time it was City’s turn to respond as Seedorf’s quick feet won a free-kick 25 yards out. Ball, hunting his second, aimed for the same spot as before but Jack Walton went full length to save.

Barnsley still carried the greater threat and Richard O’Donnell plunged low to his post to deny Jordan Williams.

Hopkin switched one O’Brien for another at the break – Jim had been a low-key performer in the first half.

O’Connor was once again in the right place to deal with Barnsley’s opening corner, heading away Brown’s flick as Adam Jackson waited to pounce.

Seedorf had looked bright on the ball but his night came to a premature end after taking a knock.

Ball, though, continued to impress and forced another fine block from Walton as he latched on to Jack Payne’s cross-field pass. City kept the corner alive and Bruenker swept Ball’s cross into the net – but his celebrations were cut short by a flag for offside.

There was no such let-off for the Bantams as Barnsley went in front for the first time.

Again it was Moncur with the finish, clinically firing home on the turn after neat build-up play involving Hedges.

Moncur, a thorn in City’s side during his Colchester days, was a whisker away from making it a hat-trick with a shot past the post.

But there was a crazy moment at the other end where Walton mis-controlled Ben Williams’ back pass and had to claw it off the line.

City were given the free-kick in the six-yard box – which Payne rattled against the bar amid a crush of 10 red shirts protecting the Barnsley net.

Payne was thwarted by a sliding Walton from a two-on-one break and sub George Miller wasted another before Barnsley were reduced to 10 officially.

Captain Adam Jackson hobbled off with a second yellow after a strong collision with Bruenker, who was also forced out the action.

City had the numerical advantage for the closing stages and O’Connor lashed over after his header was blocked. Chances made but not taken – where have we heard that before?

BARNSLEY: Walton, J Williams, Jackson, B Williams, Pinillos, Bahre, Bird, Moncur (Smith 79min), Hedges, Adeboyejo (Helliwell 87min), Brown (Isgrove 73min). Subs (not used): Otim, Feeney, Fielding, Greatorex.

CITY: O’Donnell 6, Devine 6, O’Connor 7, Knight-Percival 6, Chicksen 6, Seedorf 7 (Wood 55min, 6), Wright 5, J O’Brien 5 (L O’Brien 46min, 5), Payne 7, Ball 8, Bruenker 6 (Miller 77min). Subs (not used): McGowan, Doyle, Isherwood, Wilson.