Paul Heckingbottom says his side can learn from their defeat to Cardiff City at Oakwell on Tuesday.

Second-placed Cardiff, one of the most experienced teams in the Championship, won a dull match with a 83rd-minute goal as Liam Lindsay's clearance was blocked into the net by Callum Paterson.

The Reds head coach said: "It was a frustrating evening and a disappointing way to lose a game. I want to pay Cardiff credit by saying they are so difficult to play against.

"They are so experienced and have so much gamesmanship, they can manipulate a referee. I am not having a go at them because the team that wins deserves to win.    But you expect stronger refereeing because you know what the game is going to be like.

"We knew it would be physical. Cardiff would be slowing the game down. The ball wouldn't be in play half as much as it normally would and there would be lots of set plays. We coped with that well.

"But then how do you flip it back and manipulate the ref the other way? When you're trying to play a quick free-kick and someone is standing in front of you, play it off him and highlight it to the referee.

"These are the tiny little things which are lacking because we haven't got the experience."

Heckingbottom benched top-scorer Tom Bradshaw as well as winger Harvey Barnes who had scored in three of his last four matches. The Reds boss said Barnes and his England under 20s colleague Ike Ugbo need a rest. 

"We have planned our season around international breaks and used them to give players a rest. But Harvey and Ike have been away with England under 20s in all the international breaks.

"We are looking at giving them a break for a a few days when we can. Physically they are fine but it's just the demands of what we are asking them to do and them playing in the Championship for the first time.

"We have to manage them through the season because Harvey, in particular, has become a really important player for us."

In the absence of suspended Joe Williams, Gary Gardner made his Oakwell debut and his second appearance of a season-long loan from Aston Villa as he missed ten weeks with a leg injury. 

Heckingbottom said: "There is more to come from Gary. He did lots of good things but he is nowhere near where he can be. We thought he might not last 90 minutes but he did."