Barnsley conceded in the first minute then went 3-0 down before suffering a 3-1 loss at high-flying Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Reds were behind after 51 seconds then two down in the 18th before they conceded early in the second half before Kieffer Moore made it 3-1. They are still 21st, two points and one place clear of the relegation zone after none of the teams below them lost.
Jose Morais made five changes to the side that lost at Cardiff City on Tuesday. Three were in defence as Adam Jackson returned from injury to replace Ethan Pinnock, who dropped out of the squad, while full-backs Dimitri Cavare and Daniel Pinillos replacing Andy Yiadom and Zeki Fryers. Christopher Knasmullner made his first start in English football as he replaced the injured Brad Potts while Ryan Hedges made a first start since November 21 as he came in for Mamadou Thiam.
Barnsley began disastrously as centre-back Daniel Ayala was given plenty of space to fire a ring-wing cross into the bottom left corner from ten yards out with just 51 seconds on the clock after goalkeeper Nick Townsend came halfway off his line and slipped. It was the second time under Morais that the Reds have gone behind in the first minute with the first being the 2-1 loss to Burton Albion in his first match.
The second goal came after 18 minutes when Adama Traore – who caused chaos all afternoon with his pacy, direct runs – was given too much space by his Spanish compatriot Pinillos and fired the ball into the bottom left corner from just outside the box.
Traore and Patrick Bamford got in each other's way when trying to head in a cross by Stewart Downing, who then missed the ball after Traore had caused chaos on the right with one of several impressive runs and crosses.
It was 3-0 seven minutes into the second half when a right-wing corner from former England winger Downing was totally missed by goalkeeper Nick Townsend and Bamford turned the ball into the net from close range.
Barnsley pulled one back on 58 minutes when home goalkeeper Adama Traore seemed surprised by a long-range Gary Gardner effort and parried straight to Moore who headed in the rebound from close range.
Morais then brought on Thiam, Lloyd Isgrove and Stevie Mallan who all impressed as Barnsley were the better team for the last 30 minutes. Mallan saw a long range shot fumbled wide by Randolph then Mallan's corner was headed against the post by Moore when he looked sure to score.
At the other end, Townsend saved from Mo Besic then even more impressively from Traore after the hosts had a three-on-one breakaway from a Barnsley corner. Thiam fired over in added time as Barnsley suffered another defeat.
