BARNSLEY boss Daniel Stendel shouldered responsibility after defeat at home to Cambridge United plunged the Reds into the bottom three.
Vimal Yoganathan’s first-half goal was cancelled out in the second period by Ben Knight before Shayne Lavery won it in stoppage time.
Yoganathan was in the right place at the right time to give the hosts the lead in the 41st minute and tapped into an empty net at the back post following a Reyes Cleary corner.
Cambridge equalised just seven minutes into the second half thanks to some good work from substitute Lavery who beat his man and found Knight unmarked in the area who fired home calmly.
Cambridge won it in the first minute of stoppage time after some weak goalkeeping by Rogan Ravenhill gave Lavery the easiest of jobs to secure the three points from two yards out.
“I know how much everybody in this team, the club, invest every week to win games,” said Stendel. “But this is the situation.
“I have to take responsibility for that. I can only say I do my best and the players do their best.
“Sometimes we have to do it better. We cannot talk about having a young squad – we have to improve.
“We expected more but I think at the moment it’s more the mental side that’s important.”
Barnsley: Ravenhill, Noslin, O'Riordan, Shepherd, Kay, McGeehan, Kelly, Brownlie (Richards 83), Yoganathan (Reid 82), Cleary, Adeyemo (Taylor 85). Unused substitutes: Slicker, Gale, Okedina, Bland.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Heffernan, Watts, Bradshaw, Ball (Hoddle 66), Knight, Mpanzu, Moxon (Bangura-Williams 46), Heath (Lavery 46), Ahadme (Appere 77), Lavery (Bauer 90). Unused substitutes: Breeze, Curtis.
Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire).