The atmosphere was markedly more electric than at previous matches, due in no small part to the sizeable travelling contingent, the sunny weather and the fact that Hull City fans are finally starting to believe they will be watching Championship football next season.
But there was a scare for City in the first seconds of the game with Barnsley's frontmen racing clear and totally wrong-footing keeper Boaz Myhill and it was only a last-ditch interception from Leon Cort that saved the Tigers' blushes.
Barely three minutes later, City were 1-0 up. A looping 20-yard header from Cort, played in by a long ball forward from Damien Delaney, caught out keeper Scott Flinders who could only flap at the ball as it dipped just under the crossbar.
After 12 minutes, Chris Shuker forced a save out of Myhill, his 25-yard effort being tipped over the bar as the Tykes looked to push the Tigers back into their own half.
Danny Nardiello then squandered a golden chance to equalise when he was left in acres of space after a mix-up between Myhill and defenders Andy Dawson and Marc Joseph.
Indeed, the Tigers' defence was looking more shaky as the game progressed.
After 20 minutes, Shuker did well to race ahead down the right wing and fire in a perfect cross to Nardiello whose subsequent shot looked like an easy claim for Myhill. However, the City keeper somehow spilled the ball and a last-ditch block from Delaney allowed City to breathe a sigh of relief.
Craig Fagan had the ball in the net for City with a well-taken 20-yard strike on the half-hour mark, but his celebrations were cut short as the referee had already blown up for a free-kick, ruling that Fagan had pulled the shirt of a Barnsley defender.
There was a long hold up 10 minutes before the break after Dawson was injured in a clash with Dale Tonge and the City defender was stretchered off with his right leg in a brace.
The Tigers almost extended their lead in the 56th minute when Ryan France's volley from Nick Barmby's corner was kept out by an excellent save from Flinders.
Barnsley grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 64th minute after stepping up the pressure on the Tigers with their challenges becoming ever more fierce. Joseph had cleared a header from Antony Kay and from the subsequent corner Nardiello was there to slip in front of the defence and send the ball into the back of the net.
But just five minutes later, City were back in front when Cort slid the ball in to Fagan and there was nothing wrong with his 18-yard shot this time.
Nardiello brought another good save from Myhill in the 79th minute as the game hung on a knife-edge and the Tykes were battling to rescue a point.
There were chuckles from the home fans as the injured Tom Williams was stretchered off and replaced by Robbie Williams but at the final whistle there wasn't much to smile about for Barnsley whose hopes off reaching the play-offs now look very slim.