Ethan Pinnock's second goal in as many games ended Barnsley's ten-game winless run at Sunderland.
Pinnock's header on 47 minutes proved to be the winner as Barnsley put distance between themselves and their hosts and also ensured a double over them.
Barnsley were enforced into changes with Andy Yiadom missing out through injury and Harvey Barnes being recalled from his loan spell by parent club Leicester City.
Brad Potts returned to the starting eleven following an illness and was joined by Lloyd Isgrove and Dimitri Cavare with Tom Bradshaw dropped to the bench.
Barnsley started positively and were inches away from taking the lead when Mamadou Thiam's effort from the edge of the box cannoned off the bar.
The Reds dominated the opening stages with Cavare looking particularly impressive on his first start.
The next Barnsley chance fell to Isgrove but Sunderland 'keeper Robbin Ruiter palmed it out for a corner.
Sunderland struck the woodwork themselves before the break with Bryan Oviedo's free-kick bouncing to safety.
Potts then fired just wide of the post in the final effort before the break.
Barnsley got ahead just two minutes into the second half with Fryers's dangerous corner being headed in from close-range by Pinnock.
Sunderland substitute Paddy McNair blew a big chance to equalise after a long throw fell kindly to him. The former Manchester United man could not direct his volley from ten yards out goalwards.
Josh Maja then headed over from a corner as Sunderland pushed for a leveller.
They were almost caught on the counter-attack but Bradshaw could not get enough of a touch on Isgrove's cross.
Barnsley just about survived six minutes of added on time with Jason McCarthy clearing James Vaughan's effort off the line in the final attack.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Browning, O'Shea, Matthews, Love, Oviedo (Maja 46), Gibson (McNair 33), Honeyman, McGeady, McManaman (Asoro 61), Vaughan. Unsued: Steele, Jones, Embleton, Beadling.
Barnsley: Davies, Cavare, Lindsay, Pinnock, Fryers, Isgrove, Gardner (Moncur 74), Williams, Potts, Hammill (McCarthy 90+4), Thiam (Bradshaw 74).Unused: Townsend, Mallan, McGeehan, Ugbo.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
As it happened:
16:58pm: Full time. Sunderland 0, Barnsley 1. A huge win for The Reds.
16:57pm: 90 +7 - McCarthy just about legally blocks Vaughan's shot on the line.
16:57pm: 90 +7 - Sunderland corner and Reds clear off the line.
16:56pm: 90 + 6 - Davies has control of the ball and Barnsley have only seconds left to get through.
16:54pm: 90+4 - Moncur almost seals the win but his shot flies wide.
16:53pm: 90+4 - Hammill is going off for McCarthy.
16:52pm: 90+3 - Davies gathers another dangerous cross.
16:52pm: 90+2 - Fryers is now in the book for a late tackle.
16:50pm: 90 - There will be six minutes added on.
16:49pm: 90 - Reds survive another deep cross.
16:47pm: 87 - Bradshaw can't get enough on Isgrove's cross as Barnsley piled forward on the counter-attack.
16:46pm: 86 - Sunderland come close from a corner with Maja heading just over the top.
16:44pm: 84 - Davies gathers from a dangerous cross.
16:40pm: 80 - Bradshaw now goes into the book.
16:39pm: 79 - Hammill tries a volley from distance but does not catch it right.
16:35pm: 75 - A good move by Barnsley involving Hammill and Potts results in another corner.
16:33pm: 73 - Double change for Barnsley. Thiam is replaced by Bradshaw and Moncur is on for Gardner.
16:31pm: 71 - Thiam's shot is deflected for a corner. Heckingbottom is also pondering a change or two.
16:29pm: 69 - Driving run from Honeyman almost leads to a Sunderland chance. They'll settle for a corner but Barnsley are awarded a free-kick.
16:26pm: 67 - Davies is now booked for time wasting.
16:26pm: 66 - Huge chance for McNair who volleys wide unchallenged from a long throw.
16:23pm: 64 - Sunderland fans are getting restless. Reds seem in control.
16:20pm: 61 - Asoro comes on for McManaman.
16:20pm: 60 - Isgrove wins a free-kick down the left and draws a booking from Love.
16:19pm: 60 - Strong run from Potts but he can't get much on his shot at the end of it.
16:18pm: 58 - Lindsay keeps his cool in the box to take the ball away from Maja.
16:17pm: 57 - Hammill is continuing to have a good game. He wins another free-kick for The Reds.
16:11pm: 49 - Lindsay goes into the book.
16:07pm: 47 - Sunderland 0, Barnsley 1. Pinnock nips in from Fryers's corner for his second in two games.
16:06pm: 47 - Hammill wins Barnsley a corner.
16:04pm: 45 - Sunderland sub. Maja comes on for Oviedo.
16:04pm: The teams are back out for the second half.
15:48pm: Half time. Sunderland 0, Barnsley 0.
15:47pm: 45 +1 - Potts's effort drifts wide from the edge of the box.
15:46pm: 45 - There will be two minutes added on time.
15:44pm: 43 - Ovideo's free-kick is very close to the opener as it cannons off the post.
15:42pm: 42 - Hammill's shot from distance goes over.
15:41pm: 41 - Fryers bursts down the left and wins a corner.
15:35pm: 34 - Isgrove sneaks in down the left but his shot is pushed out by Ruiter.
15:33pm: 33 - Sunderland will make a change. Gibson is holding his groin and will be replaced by McNair.
15:32pm: 31 - Sunderland's Gibson is down injured and will receive some treatment from the physio. He's been struggling for a few minutes.
15:26pm: 26 - Sunderland are coming more into this, particularly down their right.
15:22pm: 22 - Great defending from Pinnock denies Vaughan a chance. It's a really open game.
15:21pm: 21 - Good move by Barnsley but Fryers tries to cross when a shot looked the better option.
15:20pm: 20 - Sunderland's first effort. McManaman's shot is easily gathered by Davies.
15:17pm: 17 - Barnsley's good start is annoying the locals.
15:13pm: 13 - Positive start from Cavare who wins another corner.
15:11pm: 11 - But it's wasted and Sunderland break. Potts is forced into a foul on McGeady and picks up a booking.
15:10pm: 10 - A good free-kick position for The Reds.
15:05pm: 5 - Hammill drags an effort wide from the edge of the box. Good start from The Reds.
15:05pm: 5 - Another positive move from Barnsley down the right and Cavare wins a corner.
15:04pm: 4 - Thiam's effort from the edge of the box thunders off the bar. So close to the opener for Barnsley.
15:01pm: 1 - Sunderland get us underway.
14:57pm: The teams walk out at The Stadium Of Light.
14:56pm: Chris Coleman's influence is clearly already being felt at Sunderland as 'Delilah' blasts out.
14:44pm: It's going to be a huge test for Cavare today. He's up against a top-class winger in McManaman or McGeady depending on where they play.
14:23pm: Former Wales boss Chris Coleman, appointed in November, has helped to turn the club around with three wins so far. It feels like a big game today and a win for either side will pull them away from danger.
14:23pm: The Reds have only won twice at Sunderland in their history but they ran riot against them in the reverse fixture - winning 3-0 at Oakwell.
14:08pm: It's now official. Harvey Barnes has been recalled by Leicester City.
14:07pm: Sunderland: Ruiter, Browning, O'Shea, Matthews, Love, Oviedo, Gibson, Honeyman, McGeady, McManaman, Vaughan. Subs: Steele, Asoro, Jones, Embleton, Maja, McNair, Beadling.
14:06pm: Barnsley subs: Townsend, McCarthy, McGeehan, Moncur, Mallan, Ugbo, Bradshaw.
14:05pm: Barnsley's bench does not contain Harvey Barnes who is reportedly wanted back at parent club Leicester.
14:04pm: It's three changes for Barnsley with Cavare in for the injured Yiadom at right-back. Isgrove and Potts replace Bradshaw and Barnes.
14:01pm: Barnsley's team to play Sunderland: Davies, Cavare, Lindsay, Pinnock, Fryers, Isgrove, Gardner, Williams, Potts, Hammill, Thiam.
13:56pm: Team news is coming up at 2pm.
13:56pm: Barnsley’s last win at Sunderland was in 1998 thanks to strikes from Ashley Ward, Bruce Dyer and Darren Barnard.
13:56pm: Barnsley are at the Stadium of Light for the first time since 2006. On that day, Dean Whitehead and Chris Brown ensured a 2-0 win for the hosts.
13:55pm: It’s another chance for The Reds to end their winless run which is now ten games following draws with Preston North End and Reading.
13:55pm: It’s another chance for The Reds to end their winless run which is now ten games following draws with Preston North End and Reading.
13:55pm: Sunderland would go above Barnsley with a win after they picked up maximum points on Saturday.
13:55pm: Barnsley are back on the road again and looking to build on their two Christmas points won at Oakwell.
13:53pm: Welcome to today’s coverage of Barnsley’s trip to Sunderland.
