Barnsley continued their poor form with a 2-1 loss at Stevenage on Tuesday night, missing a chance to cement themselves in League One’s top six.

Adam Phillips put the visitors ahead but the hosts – who were winless in eight – levelled just before half-time then won it early in the second half.

Barnsley have taken eight points from eight games and are still fifth, eight points off the top two and six clear in the top six.

The Reds were poor throughout, lacking quality and cohesion, and Stevenage missed a host of chances.

Sam Cosgrove came into the 11 for Devante Cole in the only change from Saturday’s loss at Charlton.

The hosts should have taken the lead in the second minute when a left-wing cross was met three yards out by Aaron Pressley who headed straight at Liam Roberts.

Jamie Reid then shot just wide of the bottom right corner after meeting Kane Smith’s low right-wing cross.

Pressley missed another fine chance on 19 minutes when he turned wide five yards out from Reid’s impressive low cross.

Another right-wing cross, this time by Louis Thompson in the 21st minute, was headed towards goal by Elliot List but Roberts dived to his right to save.

But it was Barnsley who took the lead with their first chance on 30 minutes. A long kick from goalkeeper Russell put Phillips through on goal and he lobbed the goalkeeper from just inside the box. Stevenage appealed for offside but the goal stood.

Jon Russell could have doubled the lead minutes later when he was played through on the goal right of the box by Cosgrove but goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray came out to block well.

Roberts again found Phillips with a long pass and he tried to square to McAtee but it was intercepted.

Instead it was the hosts who levelled in first half injury-time. After a corner was cleared, Reid received a pass from Thompson, cut past Phillips who dived in then found the bottom corner from ten yards out.

The hosts took the lead early in the second half through Dan Butler’s powerful 25-yard free-kick.

Reid then ran through the Reds defence before his 20-yard shot was turned out of the bottom left corner by Roberts. The goalkeeper also made a good close-range save to deny Reid on the right of the six-yard box after a cross was headed down to him.

Pressley missed another chance when he headed a left-wing cross at the back post but Roberts kept it out of his bottom left corner. He then saw another header from a corner caught by the goalkeeper.

Phillips’ low cross from the right of the box was too hard for substitute Cole.

Cole looked to be denied a clear penalty on 82 minutes when he was clean through and wrestled down by Carl Piergianni but no penalty was given.

Substitute Fabio Jalo then shot just wide of the bottom right corner from 12 yards out after a Phillips pass.

Reid hit the inside of the left post from the edge of the box after McAtee lost the ball.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Roberts; de Gevigney, McCart, Earl; Williams (Cotter 90+5mins), Connell, Phillips, Russell (Kane 65mins) Cadden (Jalo 79); Cosgrove, McAtee (Cole 65).

Unused: Killip, Cotter, O’Keeffe, James.

Yellow card: de Gevigney, McCart.

Goals: Phillips 30.

Stevenage (3-5-2): MacGillivray; , Vancooten, Piergianni, Sweeney (B Thompson 79mins); Smith, Burns, L Thompson, Butler; Reid (Roberts 90+3), Pressley (Hemmings 90+6), List (Guiness-Walker 90+3).

Unused: Mitchell, N Thompson, Freeman.

Yellow cards: List, L Thompson.

Goals: Reid 45+2, Butler 52.

Attendance: 4,727 (769 away fans).

Referee: Declan Bourne.