Barnsley’s 11-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 loss to relegation-battling Exeter City.

The Reds trailed 2-0 at half-time following a very poor first half display then were much better after the break but missed several good chances.

Mael de Givegney pulled one back late on but the Reds were beaten in the league for the first time since Derby County away on November 11.

They remain fifth in League One, five points off the top two and three clear in the top six.

Barnsley’s usual midfield three were all doubts going into the game. Herbie Kane missed out but Adam Phillips started and Luca Connell was on the bench.

Max Watters – on his first league start since November – came in for Kane with John McAtee dropping back into midfield. Aiden Marsh was on bench.

Liam Roberts made a good save in the fifth minute, turning a 30-yard Reece Cole free-kick out of his bottom right corner.

Roberts then tipped over a looping 15-yard header by Vincent Harper after a long throw was played easily into the Reds box to Ilmari Niskanen who stood up a cross from the right byline.

The visitors eventually scored in the 17th minute when, after Jack Shepherd sliced a clearance into the air, Jon Russell touched it straight to former Barnsley man Jack Aitchison brought it down and finished well from the right of the box at close-range. There were some appeals for handball but the defending was terrible.

The second goal saw more sluggish defending as Exeter passed around the home box before Cole skipped past McAtee and curled in an excellent 20-yard shot.

Harper almost added a third as he burst through the home defence into the left of the box but his powerful shot from a tight angle was kept out by Roberts at his near post.

Sonny Cox was then put clean through by a clever backheel and his shot touched by Roberts onto the post.

Barnsley had their first shot on 45 minutes when Devante Cole headed over after Watters nodded a McAtee cross back across goal.

Neill Collins brought on Sam Cosgrove and Barry Cotter for Watters and Corey O’Keeffe at half-time.

Barnsley were better early in the second half, with the substitutes making an impact. Cosgrove headed a long ball to McAtee who had the hosts’ first shot on target with a 15-yard effort that lacked power and was easily saved.

But Cox missed another massive chance at the other end, heading wide when totally unmarked from a left-wing cross.

A defensive error put Cole through on the hour mark but his shot from the right of the box was saved by the legs of Viljami Sinisalo.

Minutes later, Adam Phillips’ excellent 20-yard shot crashed against the crossbar then Cadden immediately crossed for Cosgrove to turn wide from close range.

Cosgrove’s clever touch then allowed McAtee to advance to the edge of the box where his low shot was pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Connell came on for Russell after 70 minutes and made and instant impact as fine passes by him then Phillips put McAtee through to net but the flag was up for offside.

Connell’s 25-yard swerving effort was punched away after he won the ball near halfway and surged forward. Cole then headed wide from a Phillips cross.

Cosgrove then blasted over from eight yards out after a scramble in the box.

Barnsley pulled one back when Mael de Gevigney nodded into the bottom left corner from close range on 88 minutes after Shepherd headed Nicky Cadden’s cross.

Connell’s deflected shot went narrowly wide of the bottom right corner from just outside the box deep in injury-time.

Barnsley (3–4-1-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, Shepherd; O’Keeffe (Cotter HT), Phillips, Russell (Connell 70 mins), McAtee, Cadden; Watters (Cosgrove HT), Cole.

Unused: Killip, Lopata, Marsh, Atkinson.

Yellow cards: Cotter, Cosgrove.

Goals: De Gevigney 88.

Exeter (3-4-1-2): Sinisalo; Sweeney, Diabate, Jules; Niskanen, Carroll (Taylor 81mins), Cole (Kite 81), Harper (Hartridge 64 mins); Aitchison; Rankine (Watts 81); Cox (Wildschut 70).

Unused: MacDonald, Fitzwater.

Yellow cards: Hartridge, Watts.

Goals: Aitchison 17, Cole 31.