An injury-time equaliser has left Barnsley with no realistic chance of promotion after a 1-1 draw at  Notts County on Tuesday night.
Hungarian substitute Balint Bajner netted in the 92nd minute to cancel out a stunning early opener from Sam Winnall.
To get into the play-off places, the Reds would have to win all three of their remaining games, rely on Chesterfield losing all three of their matches and overturn an goal difference deficit of 18.  Head coach Lee Johnson said his side have no chance of promotion.
Johnson changed only the striker from the team that drew 1-1 with Chesterfield on Saturday with Jabo Ibehre replacing George Waring who missed out due to the Reds only being able to include five loan players in their squad.
The first half was absolutely frantic with regular chances at either end. Peter Ramage headed over when well-placed from a corner after 40 seconds before Winnall put the Reds ahead in the ninth minute with a superb volley into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
Josh Scowen missed a good headed chance seconds later then home goalkeeper Roy Carroll denied Ibehre when the Barnsley man was clean through on goal.
Former Reds midfielder Gary Jones hit the base of the left post for County then Winnall did the same at the other end before the ball rolled across the line and was cleared.
The second half also began at a high tempo as, seconds after Lewin Nyatanga's vital block denied Garry Thompson, Conor Hourihane's deflect shot hit the bar at the other end.
Winnall fired just wide with a couple of efforts while ex-Red Paddy McCourt curled a free-kick over then blazed a great chance high and wide from ten yards out after Barnsley were carved open.
County began to dominate towards the end with Mustapha Dumbuya and Jones firing over inside the box.
The home side eventually levelled when Bajner collected a cross from the right and fired in.