Barnsley’s 12-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 3-1 loss at mid-table Exeter City on Tuesday night.

The hosts took the lead but Bobby Thomas levelled before the break. Exeter netted again just after the interval before securing the victory with a late penalty.

The Reds delivered one of the poorer performances in months, struggling to create chances and conceding poor goals.

They remain fourth, six points off the top two.

Michael Duff kept the same team that beat Sheffield Wednesday a week before. Mads Andersen made his 165th appearance which broke the club record for a non-British or Irish player.

The Reds started well but struggled to create clear chances with Herbie Kane dragging well wide from outside the box. James Norwood also shot wide from just inside the box with Nicky Cadden well placed on his left.

The hosts took the lead on 26 minutes when Jay Stansfield beat Jordan Williams on the left of the box and curled in a good shot.

But Barnsley responded well and levelled when Thomas stabbed home from Luca Connell’s left-wing free-kick.

Seconds into the second half, Devante Cole was played through but the flag was up for offside as he shot wide and was taken out by the goalkeeper.

But it was the hosts who took the lead three minutes after the interval when again Stansfield beat Williams on the left near the byline and pulled the ball back to Harry Kite who netted from close range.

Demetri Mitchell saw a volley from outside the box caught by Harry Isted then Adam Phillips shot well over from just inside the box.

Barnsley made a quadruple change and one of the replacements Slobodan Tedic had a 12-yard shot saved the legs of goalkeeper Jamal Blackman after the ball broke to him in the box.

Exeter almost made it 3-1 when Archie Collins’ header from a left-wing cross drifted inches wide of the left post. Collins had another chance second later but scuffed a shot after a good move on the left and Isted saved easily.

At the other end, Josh Benson saw a deflected shot saved then Luke Thomas curled over from the edge of the box.

The hosts scored a penalty through Sam Nombe after a clumsy tackle by Bobby Thomas following a spilled shot by Isted.

Substitute Max Watters saw a flicked effort saved by Blackman in injury-time.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Connell (Watters 64mins), Kane (L Thomas 64), Phillips, Cadden; Cole(Benson 64), Norwood (Tedic 64).

Unused: Collins, Cundy, Larkeche.

Goals: B Thomas 37.

Exeter (3-5-2): Blackman; Sweeney, Aimson, Hartridge; Key, Kite, McDonald, Collins, Mitchell; Stansfield, Scott.

Unused: Lee, Grounds, Sparkes, White, Harper, Coley, Nombe.

Goals: Stansfield 26, Kite 48, Nombe 90 (pen).