Poya Asbaghi's wait for a first win as Barnsley boss is now the longest of any head coach or manager in half a century after Barnsley lost 2-1 at high-flying Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half which they dominated but Carlton Morris levelled on the stroke of half-time totally against the run of play.
The lead was restored midway through the second half and recorded a sixth straight win which keeps them third.
Second-bottom Barnsley are winless in eight and seven points adrift of safety while several sides above them now have at least one game in hand.
The Reds have not won any of their first 12 away games for the first time since 2001/02 when they were relegated to the third tier.
Asbaghi is now the first head coach or manager not to win their first six games in charge of Barnsley since John McSeveney in 1971/72.
He made two changes from the team that drew 0-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion 12 days earlier.
Romal Palmer, who returned from illness, replaced Claudio Gomes and Clarke Oduor came in for Jordan Williams. Cauley Woodrow was still out with a knee problem.
Barnsley played 4-2-3-1 with Callum Brittain at right-back and Liam Kitching left-back while, from right to left, Oduor, Callum Styles and Morris, were behind lone striker Aaron Leya Iseka.
The hosts dominated the first half and should have been far more than 1-0 up, as Barnsley's defence was opened up time and time again by clever balls through or over them while there was very little protection from central midfielders Josh Benson and Palmer.
Blackburn had the ball in the net after 58 seconds when Reda Khadra was put clean through by a long pass and got ahead of Kitching then fired past Collins but the referee had stopped the game due to a head injury to Benson.
But Barnsley then had a decent spell and had their first shot in the 15th minute. A good Benson pass out to the right found Brittain who played it onto Styles whose 22-yard effort was pushed away by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski diving full-length to his right.
Three minutes later, former Barnsley loanee Joe Rothwell burst very easily through the visiting defence into the left of the box and shot across Brad Collins but it hit the inside of the right post and bounced out. That began a period of total Blackburn domination as Barnsley were incredibly porous in midfield and defence while barely attacking.
Blackburn top-scorer Ben Brereton shot over from 25 yards after collecting a long ball then, minutes later, John Buckley fired narrowly wide of the bottom right corner from slightly closer after a mix-up between Benson and Iseka.
The goal arrived on 24 minutes when Palmer lost the ball deep in his half and Buckley played through Rothwell who found the bottom right corner.
Ryan Nyambe then fired just wide of the top left corner from 15 yards.
Blackburn missed an almost unbelievable chance to double their lead on 37 minutes when Khadra's pass meant Buckley and Brereton-Diaz were both clean through with only Collins to beat. Buckley squared the ball past the goalkeeper but Styles got back to make a fantastic goal-saving tackle.
Two minutes later, Brereton cut in from the left of the box and his powerful shot was pushed away by Collins.
Morris' equaliser came after a scramble in the box then the shot took a deflection before hitting the right post, rolling across the line and hitting the other post before creeping in.
The second half was more even and quiet but Blackburn always looked the more threatening side.
Michal Helik came off just after the hour-mark after receiving treatment for an injury, and was replaced by Jasper Moon.
Within minutes, the hosts retook the lead. Styles tried to lead a counter-attack but was dispossessed in his half and Buckley found Brereton on the left then he cut inside and provided a superb finish into the bottom right corner.
Barnsley barely threatened an equaliser with Palmer miskicking when 15 yards out after a corner then a Styles shot from 20 yards which went over in injury-time.
Home substitute Sam Gallagher drew a save from Collins on the edge of the box after a dreadful Benson pass then Brereton-Diaz was put clean through by a defenders' header but blazed badly wide eight yards out on the left of the box

Blackburn (3-4-3): Kaminski; Lenihan, Van Hecke, Wharton; Nyambe, Rothwell (Dolan 85mins), Travis, Pickering; Buckley (Edun 85); Khadra (Gallagher 64mins), Brereton-Diaz. Unsed: Pears, Johnson, Ayala, Gallagher, Clarkson,

Yellow cards: Lenihan, Gallagher, Kaminski.

Goals: Rothwell 24, Brereton-Diaz 65.

Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Collins, mark out of ten: 6; Brittain , Helik 6 (Moon 61mins), Andersen 6, Kitching 5; Palmer 4, Benson 4, Oduor 5 (Adeboyejo 72); Styles 6; Morris 7, Iseka 5 (Cole 72).

Unused: Walton, J Williams, Gomes, Vita.

Yellow cards: Benson.

Goals: Morris 45+1.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 7:48pm
    1 Blackburn have the ball in the net after 58 seconds but it is ruled out for a foul earlier in the move . Khadra went clean through and scored
  • 7:49pm
    Barnsley playing a 4-2-3-1 with Brittain and Kitching full-backs, Benson and Palmer in the middle and Morris and Oduor flanking Iseka with Styles in attacking midfield
  • 7:53pm
    So a big scare avoided early on for the Reds. The hosts still on the attack most of the time but haven't come close again yet
  • 7:56pm
    Barnsley passing the ball out from the back calmly but, as usual this season, are struggling to make progress in the opponents' half
  • 7:59pm
    12 Nice run forward by Brittain past a couple of defenders but he loses the ball about 30 yards from the home goal and the visitors'' right flank is totally open but Blackburn cannot pass to the free man there. If Brittain is going to go forward like that, Oduor has to cover for him
  • 8:01pm
    15 minutes in and this has settled down into an even game, Barnsley are venturing forward a bit more now but the visitors, with a more direct style of balls over the top, still look the more likely scorers
  • 8:02pm
    15 Good move by the Reds. Benson's crisp pass out to the right find Brittain who comes inside and plays in Styles whose 20-yard shot is a good one but Kaminski dives to his left to save
  • 8:03pm
    A big part of Barnsley's gameplan in this system is to fashion shooting chances from that sort of distance for Styles.
  • 8:05pm
    Blackburn so close. Former Barnsley man Joe Rothwell bursts through the Reds defence far too easily then shoots from the left of the box but it hits the inside of the post and bounces out. 0-0
  • 8:09pm
    Barnsley will be pleased generally with this first 20 minutes but there have been a few worriying signs than Blackburn can open them up
  • 8:09pm
    23 Ben Brereton Diaz, looking for his 20th goal of the season, shoots well over from 25 yards after Barnsley once again were exposed by a long ball over the top
  • 8:10pm
    24 Now John Buckley shoots just wide from about 20 yards after Benson and Iseka got in a mix up and lost the ball in their half
  • 8:11pm
    GOAL!
    Joe Rothwell the former Barnsley loanee goes clean through to score
  • 8:13pm
    Too simple again. He's played clean through and finds the bottom right corner. Barnsley had been creaking badly for a few minutes. Rovers always looked the more dangerous team
  • 8:14pm
    Now Ryan Nyambe curls wide. Barnsley are all over the place
  • 8:20pm
    Barnsley's midfield, like for most of this season, is offering very little protection to the defence which is extremely easy to open up. They are hanging on at 1-0 with ten minutes left until the break
  • 8:23pm
    37 Fantastic last-ditch tackle by Styles to deny Brereton a certain goal. Blackburn had two men clean through with only Collins to beat. Barnsley's back line is ridiculous easy to pass through. All over the place at the back doesn't cover it.
  • 8:24pm
    38 Now Brereton cuts in from the left of the box and shoots from a tight angle. It's a stinging effort which Collins pushes away
  • 8:28pm
    42 Another ball over the top puts Brereton through but the flag is up for offside and Collins saves anyway
  • 8:29pm
    This has been one of the most harrowing passages of Barnsley's dismal season. Blackburn should be far further ahead then 1-0. The defence is porous and the midfield non existent while they cannot get the ball forward
  • 8:32pm
    GOAL!
    Carlton Morris levels on the stroke of half-time. It's totally totally against the run of play but Barnsley won't care.
  • 8:35pm
    Absolute smash and grab, but they'll take it. Morris' shot takes a deflection, hits the right post, rolls across the line then hits the other post and goes in. No reaction for about five seconds from anyone in the crowd. Bizarre moment but potentially vital
  • 8:35pm
    HALF-TIME: Blackburn 1, Barnsley 1
  • 8:48pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 8:52pm
    Blackburn have started the second half on top again. Rothwell just sliced wide a difficult chance on the volley from a right wing cross
  • 8:56pm
    53 Brereton cuts past a defender on the left and Helik makes a fine back. Barnsley then lose the ball immediately and Buckley's shot from 20 yards is straight at Collins who catches easily
  • 8:57pm
    Helik down injured and receiving treatment
  • 8:58pm
    The centre-back is walking off the pitch but seems to be alright
  • 8:58pm
    Helik back on the pitch and the game restarts
  • 9:02pm
    Nearly an hour gone here. The second half is a bit calmer and more even than the first but Blackburn still look the more threatening side
  • 9:04pm
    61 Blackburn corner on the left. Taken short but they make a mess of it and Oduor tackles
  • 9:04pm
    Jasper Moon replaces Michal Helik, who was down with an injury a few minutes ago. 1-1
  • 9:08pm
    GOAL!
    Ben Brereton Diaz restores the home side's lead
  • 9:15pm
    Adeboyejo and Cole come on for Iseka and Oduor
  • 9:16pm
    On the second goal. For the umpteenth time tonight, Barnsley lose the ball deep in their half. Styles I think was crowded out as he tried to counter attack. Brereton played in on the left and he supplies a fine finish into the bottom right corner. He has 20 goals this season, Barnsley have 16
  • 9:17pm
    The game has settled down since the third goal. Blackburn will look to control it from here, knowing Barnsley will have to attack and leave themselves even more exposed at the back
  • 9:19pm
    Barnsley have offered nothing of note in attack in this half.. They need to get the ball up the pitch a lot more often if they are to have a chance of a point here
  • 9:20pm
    77 Barnsley win a corner on the right
  • 9:20pm
    78 Styles corner from the right is headed out to Palmer who miskicks 15 yards out
  • 9:25pm
    Into the final ten minutes here. Barnsley not really threatening for an equaliser. They are struggling to get near the home goal
  • 9:28pm
    Blackburn take off Buckley for Edun
  • 9:28pm
    Dolan also comes on for Rothwell
  • 9:29pm
    Into the final five minutes. Barnsley still yet to create a real chance in this half
  • 9:30pm
    87 Styles' free-kick easily cleared
  • 9:34pm
    90 Benson gifts the ball to Gallagher with a terrible pass and he shoots from the edge of the box but Collins saves
  • 9:37pm
    90+2 Diaz goes clean through from a defensive header but blazes over
  • 9:37pm
    90+3 Styles shoots over from 20 yards. That might be it
  • 9:38pm
    FULL-TIME: Blackburn 2, Barnsley 1.

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