Ethan Pinnock's late header ensured Barnsley what could be a vital point against Reading.
Yann Kermorgant's header had looked like it had settled the game at Oakwell before Pinnock's leveller earned them a 1-1 draw which just keeps them clear of the Championship drop zone.
Paul Heckingbottom made two changes to the starting eleven from the game on Boxing Day with Lloyd Isgrove and Stevie Mallan dropping out for Mamadou Thiam and Harvey Barnes.
Gary Gardner had Barnsley's first effort on goal as he raced through on the counter-attack before scooping an effort over.
Thiam was too hesitant moments later when clean through but Reading 'keeper Vito Mannone beat him to the ball.
The striker also had the next two chances and after dragging well wide with his left foot fired a volley into the side netting.
Reading were largely restricted to efforts from distance with Garath McCleary testing Adam Davies and Modou Barrow's effort deflecting over the bar.
Thiam linked up with strike partner Tom Bradshaw early in the second half but the latter's effort was held by Mannone.
Thiam was then crowded out after showing strength and skill in the box.
Reading had offered little threat in the second half but their first real foray forward saw them go ahead on 68 minutes.
Tyler Blackett's cross to the back-post was perfect for Yann Kermorgant who powered a header past Davies.
It was a big blow for Barnsley and forced a treble change with Ike Ugbo, Isgrove and Jason McCarthy brought on.
Barnsley continued to press with Zeki Fryers's effort forcing a save out of Mannone before Bradshaw headed the subsequent corner over the bar.
The lively Isgrove finally set up the leveller in the last minute with an angled ball into the box which Pinnock powered home.
Ugbo then had a chance to snatch it in injury time but his goal-bound header was cleared over the bar as Barnsley's winless run was extended to ten games.
Barnsley: Davies, Yiadom (McCarthy 70), Pinnock, Lindsay, Fryers, Hammill, Williams, Gardner, Barnes (Isgrove 70), Bradshaw, Thiam (Ugbo 70).Unused: Townsend, Mallan, Potts, Bird.
Reading: Mannone, Gunter, McShane, Moore, Blackett, McCleary (Bodvarsson 81), Van den Berg (Evans 61), Swift (Aluko 59), Edwards, Barrow, Kermorgant. Unused: Jaakola, Richards, Ilori, Clement.
Attendance: 11,945 (424 from Reading).
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
As it happened:
16:57pm: Full time. Barnsley 1, Reading 1. Pinnock's late header earns Barnsley.a vital point but the winless run is now ten.
16:53pm: 90+ Barnsley piling the pressure on and Ugbo's header is cleared off the line.
16:52pm: 90+ Barnsley are being roared on here.
16:51pm: 90 - Pinnock heads Barnsley level! Barnsley 1, Reading 1.
16:49pm: 89 - Big chance for Reading to double their lead but Blackett's volley is poor.
16:48pm: 89 - Reading playing for time in the far corner.
16:44pm: 85 - Aluko is booked.
16:43pm: Attendance: 11,945 (424 from Reading).
16:40pm: 81 - McCleary is being replaced by Bodvarsson.
16:39pm: 80 - Fyers' effort is tipped over by Mannone. Reading also about to use their final substitution.
16:35pm: 75 - Barnsley still trying but the goal feels like a huge sucker-punch.
16:29pm: 70 - Ugbo also comes on for Thiam.
16:29pm: 70 - Double change for Barnsley. Barnes and Yiadom off. Isgrove and McCarthy on.
16:27pm: 68 - Goal. Barnsley 0, Reading 1. Kermorgant heads in the opener from Blackett's cross.
16:26pm: 66- A break in play with Yiadom receiving treatment. Barnsley remain the better side.
16:21pm: 61 - Van den Berg is replaced by Evans.
16:19pm: 60 - Much better from Barnsley. Thiam shows skill in the box before his effort is blocked. Bradshaw picks up the rebound but it's saved.
16:18pm: 59 - Reading's Aluko is coming on for Swift.
16:15pm: 56 - Good link-up play between Thiam and Bradshaw results in the latter firing a shot at Mannone.
16:12pm: 53 - Barnes is coming into the game. He puts in a couple of dangerous crosses in the opening stages of the half.
16:03pm: The teams are back out for the second half.
15:48pm: Few chances in the game so far. Thiam's effort into the side netting is the closest either side have come.
15:48pm: Half time. Barnsley 0, Reading 0.
15:46pm: 45 - There will be one minute added time.
15:43pm: 42 - Davies does well to cling on to a powerful McCleary effort which also took a deflection.
15:37pm: 36 - Swift shoots straight at Davies from the edge of the box.
15:35pm: 34 - Barnsley improving as Barnes' header flies wide. Reading look there for the taking.
15:34pm: 32 - Thiam comes a lot closer this time. He meets a cross well but it's into the side netting.
15:31pm: 30 - Good touch from Bradshaw and the ball breaks kindly for Thiam but his effort goes well wide.
15:30pm: 29 - Barrow's effort is deflected over the bar for a corner.
15:28pm: 27- There hasn't been much quality from either side so far as Thiam's pass races out for a goal kick.
15:23pm: 22 - Chance for Thiam who was set clear on goal. Mannone comes out to meet him and gets there first.
15:21pm: 20 - It's quite a flat atmosphere at Oakwell. The players need to get the crowd going a bit.
15:17pm: 16 - Reds' counter-attack set off by Bradshaw but Gardner's effort loops over the bar.
15:15pm: 14 - Hammill certainly looks the most likely to create something so far. Positive start from the winger.
15:11pm: 10 - Now Barnsley have a corner. Good skill from Hammill earlier livens the crowd up.
15:08pm: 7 - Very little to report until now. Gunter's shot is palmed away by Davies for a corner.
15:01pm: 1 - Reading get us underway and will attack the Ponty End.
14:58pm: The teams are out and we're just moments away from kick off. Can Barnsley close out 2017 with a win?
14:58pm: The teams are out and we're just moments away from kick off. Can Barnsley close out 2017 with a win?
14:12pm: Former Red Paul McShane will captain Reading. Adam Davies keeps hold of the armband for Barnsley with Angus MacDonald not even in the squad.
14:11pm: An interesting move back to 4-4-2. Barnsley need to create more chances today.
14:09pm: Reading subs: Jaakola, Richards, Evans, Aluko, Ilori, Clement, Bodvarsson.
14:08pm: Reading: Mannone, Gunter, McShane, Moore, Blackett, Van den Berg, Swift, McCleary, Edwards, Barrow, Kermorgant.
14:06pm: Barnsley subs: Townsend, McCarthy, Bird, Isgrove, Potts, Mallan, Ugbo.
14:06pm: It's two changes with Isgrove and Mallan out and Thiam and Barnes in.
14:05pm: Barnsley: Davies, Yiadom, Pinnock, Lindsay, Fryers, Hammill, Williams, Gardner, Barnes, Bradshaw, Thiam.
13:49pm: It's a year since Norman's death and his old friend Mick McCarthy leads the tributes in the programme.
13:44pm: There are some lovely tributes to club legend Norman Rimmington in today's programme. Well worth a read.
13:41pm: Team news is coming up at 2pm. There's likely to be changes given the busy Christmas schedule but it remains to be seen whether Paul Heckingbottom sticks with 4-3-3.
13:39pm: It's the final chance of 2017 to get an all important win. Barnsley are winless in nine and could really do with the three points today.
13:39pm: Welcome to the Chronicle's coverage of Barnsley's home game against Reading.
