Barnsley's slender survival chances suffered another heavy blow as they went down 1-0 at home to Cardiff City on Wednesday – a fifth straight defeat.
The visitors, who were fifth bottom and had not kept a clean sheet for 27 games, offered little in a game of few chances but netted midway through the second half as the Reds faded after a promising first half.
Substitute Aaron Leya Iseka had a goal ruled out in the 95th minute for offside, which looked to be the wrong decision.
Barnsley remain bottom and eight points from safety while they are winless in 12 league games, including Poya Asbaghi's first ten as head coach.
Asbaghi – who was back after isolating due to Covid-19 – made four changes from the team that lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.
New signing Domingos Quina started with fellow deadline day arrival Amine Bassi on the bench after his visa cleared quicker than expected. Liam Kitching and Claudio Gomes returned from injury into the 11, and Josh Benson also started.
Dropping to the bench were Jasper Moon, Romal Palmer and Aaron Leya Iseka while Matty Wolfe was out of the squad a minor injury. Carlton Morris was back on the bench after his bout of Covid-19.
The Reds played a 3-5-1-1 with Quina in central midfield along with Benson and Gomes, while Callum Styles was just behind lone striker Devante Cole.
Benson had the first chance in the third minute when the ball dropped to him 15 yards out but his low volley lacked power and was easily saved.
Cardiff then had a decent spell with two long throws by Will Vaulks being half cleared to Tommy Doyle who blazed two shots over from just outside the box.
Barnsley got back on top, playing some attractive football and winning a series of set pieces but struggling to carve out chances.
Styles won the ball off a defender and was clearly pulled back but the referee appeared to play advantage as Cole shot wide of the bottom left corner from about 25 yards out.
Kitching then headed wide from a right-wing Styles corner in the 45th minute.
Barnsley had been the better side in the first half but, as so often this season, lacked the ability to create and take chances in the final third.
The second half was much quieter, with no chances until the visitors took the lead in the 71st minute. A long clearance was played upfield to substitute Uche Ikpeazu who beat Michal Helik in the air then powered past Mads Andersen before his scuffed shot from the right of the box trickled past the static Brad Collins and into the bottom left corner. It was Cardiff's first shot on target.
Barnsley brought on debutant Bassi and Iseka in response to the goal, having earlier introduced Morris.
Gomes blazed over from long-range, as Kitching had done earlier at 0-0, then they began to look threatening in injury-time.
Iseka headed wide from a Bassi free-kick in the 93rd minute after rising above his marker at the the back post. Iseka then had the ball in the back of the net after Styles' shot was deflected to him and he fired home.
Barnsley (3-5-1-1): Collins; Helik, Andersen, Kitching (Bassi 78mins); J Williams, Benson (Iseka 78), Gomes, Quina (Morris 64), Vita; Styles; Cole.
Unused: Walton, Moon, Palmer, Hondermarck.
Yellow cards: Andersen.
Cardiff (3-5-2): Smithies; Ng, Morrison (Flint 11mins), McGuinness; Drameh, Vaulks, Wintle, Doyle, Doughty (Ikpeazu 64); Hugill, Watters (Davies 55).
Unused: Phillips, Bagan, Collins, Pack.
Yellow cards: McGuinnes, Doyle, Flint.
Goals: Ikpeazu 71.
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