John McAtee scored a 90th-minute winner as Barnsley made it five straight away wins with a 1-0 success at Exeter City.

It was a dull game overall but Neill Collins’ changes made a difference and one substitute Owen Dodgson crossed for another in McAtee to head home.

The Reds are now up to third in League One, after Exeter hit their post twice.

Barnsley kept the same team that started the 4-0 win at Cambridge United on Tuesday with Adam Phillips replacing Josh Benson on the bench.

Exeter’s Reece Cole sent a 25-yard free-kick wide of the bottom left corner then Max Watters shot off target from a similar distance.

Herbie Kane’s cross from the right almost went in and but the goalkeeper clawed it out of the top left corner then Callum Styles burst through but shot horribly wide from the edge of the box.

Cole then scuffed at the goalkeeper after Barnsley won the ball on the edge of the home box and Styles passed to Cole. Styles sliced a volley well wide after latching onto a lofted Kane pass deep in the home half.

Liam Roberts almost gifted former Barnsley forward Jack Aitchison a golden chance as he slipped on the ball in his box but just managed to block the ball onto Aitchison and it looped off-target.

But the second half of the first half was very low quality with both sides struggling for end product and intensity. Exeter offered little as they tried to play long balls and counter-attack, with the Reds faded after a good start.

Exeter had the first chance of the second half but Demetri Mitchell headed a right-wing cross well wide of the right post.

Mitchell then smashed a shot against the right post for the improved hosts after a fine run with Vincent Harper unable to turn the rebound in.

Cole headed a Cadden corner wide then Styles scuffed a close-range shot straight straight to the goalkeeper after fine work by substitute John McAtee.

Substitute Sam Cosgrove could have won it late on but got very little power on a Barry Cotter cross after a good move involving Kane’s long ball and a fine Phillips pull-back.

McCart headed narrowly wide of the bottom left corner in the 89th minute from a Dodgson corner on the right.

But the winner came in the 90th minute when Dodgson crossed form the left and McAtee stooped to head into the bottom left corner.

Mitchell headed against the post for the hosts then McAtee fired wide after the goalkeeper had gone up for an attacking corner.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, McCart; O’Keeffe (Cotter 65mins), Styles, Russell (Phillips 65), Kane, Cadden (Dodgson 81); Watters (McAtee 60), Cole (Cosgrove 81).

Unused: Killip, Shepherd.

Yellow cards: McCart, Styles.

Goals: McAtee 90.

Exeter (3-5-2): Sinisalo; Simson, Hartridge (Cox 90+3mins), Sweeney; Harper (Wildschut 71), Kite (Muskwe 90+3), Cole (Taylor 79), Jules, Mitchell, Scott, Aitchison (Trevitt 71).

Unused: Woods, Richards.

Yellow cards: Aitchison, Cole.