Barnsley ended their run of five successive losses with a goalless draw at Brentford's Griffin Park on Saturday.
It was a first clean sheet in seven matches and the second in 19 away from home while, after soaking up pressure for most of the season, they had several chances to win it late on. The Reds remain 20th, four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Brad Potts was replaced by George Moncur in the only change from the side that lost to Derby County a week ago. Both had sides good counter-attack opportunities in the first half but the quantity and quality of Brentford's was greater, with Barnsley failing to register a shot on target before the break.
The hosts were almost in front in the third minute when Moncur lost the ball in his half and the visiting defence was cut open by swift passing so goalkeeper Adam Davies had to make a one-on-one save with his chest from Neal Maupay.
Davies then smothered the ball at the feet of Maupay who looked like he was clean through again, and the same player was inches away from turning in a cross from fellow Frenchman Yoann Barbet. John Egan then had a header from a corner which was cleared by Jason McCarthy who was just in front of his line.
Mamadou Thiam had earlier dragged a shot wide but Barnsley's best chance came when Harvey Barnes powered away from Ryan Woods on the counter-attack and looked to be clean through with Tom Bradshaw to pass to but his touch was too heavy and goalkeeper Daniel Bentley gathered.
Romaine Sawyers then headed wide in the box and was free again in the penalty area but shot straight at team-mate Maupay and the ball deflected wide. Barbet then had a long-range shot deflected just wide and another which Davies saved easily.
Barnsley almost snatched an unlikely half-time lead when Bradshaw dragged wide after a good run and pass from Moncur.
Matty Pearson came off injured five minutes into the second half and was replaced by Ethan Pinnock who made his first appearance since August.
The Reds were much better at keeping the hosts out after the break and, midway through the half, began to create chances. Barnes had the visitors' first shot on target with a low 25-yard free-kick which Daniel Bentley turned around wide. Barnes then sent in a good cross from the left and Bradshaw blazed over inside the six-yard box.
Moncur cut in from the right wide but his 20-yard shot was straight at Bentley. Davies salvaged a point for his side as he got down brilliantly to his left to save a low 20-yard effort from Ollie Watkins.
Paul Heckingbottom confirmed after the match that both Pearson and Cameron McGeehan have injuries and could miss several games over the Christmas period.
THE MATCH AS IT HAPPENED
17:09pm: It's an end to the losing run and a precious point as well as a clean sheet
17:02pm: It's an to the losing run and a precious point as well as a clean sheet
16:57pm: FULL-TIME: Brentford 0, Barnsley 0
16:56pm: It's raining very heavily here as we head into the 94th minute
16:56pm: 90+2 brilliant save by Adam Davies, getting down low to his left to turn an Ollie Watkins shot wide
16:50pm: 88 - Hammill on for Harvey Barnes
16:49pm: This half has been almost the opposite of the first with Barnsley the more dangerous on the attack and the hosts not having a shot on goal
16:47pm: Into last 5 minutes of the 90. Gardner has been down with cramp but now up again
16:43pm: 82 Ike Ugbo coming on for Mamadou Thiam
16:38pm: 76 Moncur cuts in from the left but his shot is straight at Bentley
16:35pm: Double substitution for the hosts with MacLeod and Jozefzoon, who scored at Oakwell last season, coming on
16:33pm: The Reds have dominated the last five minutes . Can they win this? Still 0-0.
16:33pm: 72. Massive chances for the Reds. Bradshaw knocks a Barnes cross over from five yards out.
16:31pm: 70 Barnsley have their first shot on target as Barnes' 25 yard free-kick is clawed out of his bottom corner by Bentley
16:29pm: Brentford's Josh Clarke has gone off injured and replaced by Nico Yennaris
16:29pm: 67 Brilliant diving header from Pinnock to defend his box, then the Reds break and win a free-kick
16:25pm: More than an hour gone. Brentford still camped in Barnsley's half but not carving out chances like in the first half
16:19pm: Barnsley's midfielders have been much better so far in this far at providing a second line of defence in front of the back four to make it hard for the Bees to pass through their visitors . Crucial interceptions already by Williams, Gardner, Moncur
16:14pm: Pinnock's first league appearance since Sheffield United in August and a second in the EFL. A huge game for the former PE teacher
16:11pm: 50 Matty Pearson comes off injured and Ethan Pinnock is on
16:07pm: It's got.a lot darker and colder in the last 20 minutes here in West London. Barnsley will be looking for their first shot on target now
16:06pm: SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
15:54pm: Not a bad 0-0 so far. Plenty of decent counter-attacks, but mainly from Brentford who have been the better team with the majority of the chances.
15:50pm: HALF-TIME: Brentford 0, Barnsley 0
15:46pm: 45 Bradshaw drags a shot wide from the right of the box after a good run by Moncur
15:45pm: 44 Ollie Watkins' shot is blocked by Pearson but deflects wide. Then Barbet has a low shot which is saved easily by Davies diving to his right .
15:44pm: Just a few minutes for Barnsley to hold on now, and that is what they have been doing for a lot of this game. They have defended well with plenty of blocks, interceptions, tackles and saves. Still 0-0
15:40pm: 40 Barbet's 25 yard low shot goes just wide via a deflection off his own player
15:38pm: Barnsley approaching the time of game when they conceded twice in five minutes last week against Derby
15:35pm: Joe Williams is hobbling off after hurting himself in a tackle. He looks to be OK, though. Still 0-0
15:31pm: I have to say the Barnsley fans have been superb so far, they are all we can hear in the press box
15:29pm: 28 now Sawyers is free in the Barnsley box but his shot hits his own man Maupay and goes wide.
15:27pm: 27 Romaine Sawyers is not tracked by Gary Gardner but heads a right-wing cross wide
15:27pm: Barnes has also had two half-chances with headers at the back post from right-wing crosses, but he is not really the kind of winger who is going to power in a header from a tight angle
15:25pm: 25 Barnes brilliantly sprints away from Ryan Woods but his touch is poor and the goalkeeper gathers
15:21pm: 20 John Egans heads a corner and McCarthy clears just in front of his goal
15:19pm: 18 Barbet cross from the left and Maupay is inches away from sliding in to score
15:17pm: 17 Maupay almost through on goal from a long ball but Davies smothered
15:14pm: It's now more than 500 minutes since Barnsley scored in open play
15:13pm: Canos is back on and play continues
15:12pm: Brentford's Spanish winger Sergi Canos, who has been the best player so far, is having treatment for an injury
15:11pm: 10 minutes in. Only that Davies save one-on-one from Maupay to report so far in terms of big chances
15:10pm: Both sides counter-attack each other, Brentford currently look the more likely to create chances
15:08pm: 7 Thiam drags a shot wide from 25 yards. Low and badly scuffed
15:07pm: 6 Barnsley have their first attack but Yiadom's cross is cleared. The hosts have quietened down a little after s strong start
15:07pm: 6 Barnsley have their first attack but Yiadom's cross is cleared. The hosts have quietened down a little after s strong start
15:05pm: That Maupay chance was caused by George Moncur losing the ball in his half. The Reds can't afford that sloppiness
15:04pm: 3 Brentford have had some great chances, Davies saves one on one from Maupay, seconds after Canos' shot is blocked in the box by McCarthy
15:01pm: UNDERWAY AT BRENTFORD
14:59pm: The players are out, Barnsley go up to their fans and clap them, which is returned to them
14:48pm: Brentford are a club Barnsley can hope to emulate, as Paul Heckingbottom has admitted this week. Both clubs shop in markets most of their Championship rivals tend to ignore, while their focus is on developing young talent. Although the Bees have a bit more money to play with, that is partly because of the fees they have received for the players they have developed.
14:46pm: Both teams average just under 24 in age with Brentford very slightly older and a little bit more experienced in the Championship, although the most experienced players in the 22 are home midfielders Ryan Woods and Josh McEachran who have only recently passed 100 games at this level.
14:45pm: Apparently there are 800 Barnsley fans here, but most of them seem to be in one of the four pubs on the corners of this ground at the moment
14:43pm: Barnsley have caused a bit of a stir on Twitter with their amusing Star Wars-themed team announcement. You should have a look if you haven't seen it yet
14:37pm: Barnsley are out warming up in their green and white away kits. Tom Jones is singing that it's cold outside over the PA, and it is!! Hopefully the Reds don't give any gifts away like they have been recently
14:36pm: BRENTFORD TEAM: Bentley; Clarke, Bjelland, Egan, Barbet; McEachran, Woods, Sawyers; Watkins, Maupay, Canos. Subs: Daniels, MacLeod, Jozefzoon, Yennaris, Mokotjo, Chatzitheodoridis, Mepham
14:20pm: Barnsley will be hoping for a repeat of last year when they ended run of just one point from six games (the same as their current form) with victory at this ground. Paul Heckingbottom said in the build-up that he has been thinking about that game and wants the same again
14:02pm: Brad Potts is replaced by George Moncur in the only change from the side that lost to Derby County a week ago. Jared Bird and Ethan Pinnock are on the bench with Cameron McGeehan and the injured Ryan Hedges dropping out of the squad.
14:01pm: BARNSLEY TEAM: Davies; McCarthy, MacDonald, Pearson, Yiadom; Moncur, Williams, Gardner, Barnes; Bradshaw, Thiam. Substitutes: Townsend, Pinnock, Bird, Mallan, Potts, Hammill, Ugbo
13:48pm: Barnsley have won just five of 28 games at Griffin Park but one of them was last year when Sam Winnall and Adam Armstrong secured a 2-0 win
13:47pm: Brentford are unbeaten in nine matches at home, but six of them have been draws and only struggling Burton and Sunderland have won fewer games on their own turf
13:39pm: The Reds will be looking to avoid a sixth straight defeat today. They have not scored from open play in 493 minutes and conceded three goals in each of the last three games
13:37pm: Welcome to the live updates from Brentford's game at Barnsley. We will bring you team news and build-up as well as all the action when the game gets underway at 3.
