A late error by Mael de Gevigney gifted Exeter City a 2-1 win at Barnsley on Tuesday night.

The visitors took an early lead but Stephen Humphrys levelled after the break before de Gevigney’s mistake gave the Devon club a third win in three trips to Oakwell.

The 11th-placed Reds are now winless in six and have collected 12 points from their last 15 games.

Conor Hourihane made one change to the team that drew 1-1 at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, as Stephen Humphrys came in for Max Watters up front.

There was NO Adam Phillips in the squad – after Hourihane revealed the previous day that he did not play at the weekend as he had missed a team meeting – or Donovan Pines. Dexter Lembikisa and Clement Rodrigues were both back on the bench.

Exeter’s Ryan Trevitt blasted over on the volley after a scramble following an early corner then, at the other end, Humphrys won the ball and drove into the box on the left but shot into the side netting.

Kieren Flavell saved with his legs from a Pat Jones shot on the right of the box, but was beaten seconds later. Ed Francis played Trevitt through in the middle of the area but his shot was blocked by Marc Roberts then Flavell saved from Caleb Watts before Trevitt tapped in amid shouts for offside.

Humphrys then beat two defenders on the left but his shot from a tight angle was saved comfortably. Fabio Jalo had a shot from the right of the box saved following good passes by Kelechi Nwakali and Jon Russell.

It was almost 2-0 just before the break when, from a long throw, Ed Turns’ header crept over the line but it was controversially ruled out for a foul on Russell by Watts.

Jalo then blasted over a good chance 15 yards out after Corey O’Keeffe passed a left-wing corner to him.

Barnsley made two changes at half-time with Luca Connell and Watters coming on for Nwakali and Jonathan Bland.

They switched to a back four, with Conor McCarthy at left-back, Connell holding in midfield then Keillor-Dunn and Russell more advanced while Jalo and Humphrys were either side of Watters.

The Reds levelled just before the hour-mark with a swift break from an Exeter corner. After Mael de Gevigney and Russell both blocked shots, Davis Keillor-Dunn led the counter-attack and played in Humphrys to provide an excellent finish from the left of the box into the bottom right corner. It was his first goal in 23 games since November.

Humphrys almost got another soon after but he was denied by a close-range Jay Whitworth save after Keillor-Dunn’s effort was blocked by a defender.

Keillor-Dunn then cut in from the left and had a shot blocked before Russell’s scuffed effort was gathered by Whitworth.

Flavell came out to the edge of his box to deny Niskanen after a poor back header by O’Keeffe.

Marc Roberts’ volley from a Connell corner was saved but it was Exeter who went 2-1 up.

De Gegivney was robbed of the ball by Josh Magennis just outside his box on the left and the striker drove into the box before blasting past Flavell.

Russell shot over from just outside the box then Keillor-Dunn sliced a volley from a Humphrys cross into the air and onto the roof of the net.

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Flavell; de Gevigney (Rodrigues 90+2mins), Roberts, McCarthy; Bland (Connell HT), Russell, Nwakali (Watters HT), O’Keeffe; Keillor-Dunn; Humphrys, Jalo (Lewis 76).

Unused: Hayton, Lembikisa, Barratt.

Yellow cards: Nwakali, de Gevigney.

Goals: Humphrys 59.

Exeter (3-5-2): Whitworth; Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge; McMillan, Francis, Trevitt (Purrington 90+8), Jones (Yogane HT), Niskanen (Harper 70); Watts (Cox 59), Magennis.

Unused: Purrington, Cole, K McDonald, Oluwarbori.

Yellow cards: Watts.

Goal: Trevitt 13. Magennis 81.