High-flying Brentford maintained their impressive start to the season with a deserved draw at Oakwell.
But for Barnsley it was another in a series of very poor performances. Under-fire manager Paul Hart and his poorly performing players were booed off at the end of a dreadful contest.
The only real plus point for the Tykes was the clean sheet, with on-loan goalkeeper Ross Turnbull making a good debut and Anthony Kay excelling in defence.
Full-back Bobby Hassell pulled a muscle in the warm-up and was left out of the starting line-up, with Kay filling in at right-back for the first half and then replacing the injured Matt Carbon at centre-half after the break.
The first 45 minutes were almost devoid of entertainment, with the contest only springing to life following bookings for Chris Shuker and Brentford striker Isaiah Rankin.
Rankin was booed by the home fans following a controversial end to his Tykes career last season.
Barnsley almost broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time when a wonderful cross by Stephen McPhail deceived Bees keeper Stuart Nelson but was cleared off the line by defender Michael Turner.
It was Brentford who should have broken the deadlock seven minutes into the second half when a lovely reverse pass from Stephen Hunt put substitute Alex Rhodes in the clear but his first-time shot flew wide of the right-hand post.
Barnsley attempted to raise the tempo and Shuker brought a good save from Nelson on the hour but it was the visitors who continued to create the better openings.
Firstly striker Matt Harrold stabbed a shot wide following a dangerous long throw and then Turnbull twice pulled off fine saves to deny Rhodes and then, in stoppage time, Chris Hargreaves.