Barnsley opened up their 2012/13 Npower Championship campaign at home for the first time since the 2007/08 season. On that occasion they were thumped 4-1 by Coventry City, this time around however, Keith Hill's men triumphed 1-0 over Middlesbrough.
New signings David Gonzalez, Tomasz Cywka, Jacob Mellis and Marlon Harewood earnt starts against the Teessiders. Craig Davies settled the match on 45 minutes, driving a low shot past Jason Steele.
FT: Barnsley 1 (Davies 45) Middlesbrough 0. Attendance 12,203.
On the Monday after the season's curtain raiser, the Reds completed the signing of ex-Coventry City defender Martin Cranie. He joined on a one year deal for a free transfer.
The Reds first away game of the new season came in the form of recently relegated from the Premier League, Wolves. Goals from Stephen Ward, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Edwards gave the hosts a 3 goal cushion before Tomasz Cywka earned the Reds scant consolation.
FT: Wolves 3 (Ward 8, Ebanks-Blake 61, Edwards 70) Barnsley 1 (Cywka 79). Attendance: 24,400
Some good news came the Reds way on the 24th as David Perkins signed a new deal with the club following speculation of a move away from Oakwell.
Another away humbling came the following Saturday as Barnsley travelled to the AMEX Stadium to face Brighton. Things did not begin well as Ashley Barnes and Wayne Bridge gave the Seagulls a 2-0 lead before the quarter hour mark. Craig Davies got Barnsley back into the game with a penalty. But only three minutes later, another Craig, this time, Mackail-Smith restored Brighton's two goal cushion.
Mackail-Smith added a fourth five minutes into the second half and Barnes inflicted more misery on the Reds with a fifth goal for Brighton.
FT: Brighton 5 (Barnes 4,81, Bridge 14, Mackail-Smith 38,50) Barnsley 1 (Davies pen 35). Attendance: 24,594
The second round of the Capital One Cup paired the Reds with Premier League side Swansea City. After the previous two results, spirits were low and the Swans easily saw off Barnsley. Danny Graham gave them the lead before two Luke Moore goals either side of a Bobby Hassell strike saw them comfortably into round 3.
FT: Swansea City 3 (Graham 24, Moore 59,88) Barnsley 1 (Hassell 69). Attendance: 9,025.
Ben Alnwick had now served his three-match suspension for his red card in the Capital One Cup game with Rochdale so Barnsley released Colombian stopper David Gonzalez.
August League Record: Played 3; Won 1; Drawn 0; Lost 2; For 3; Against 8; GD-5; Pts 3; Position 20th.