Ivan Toney (far right) joined Brentford from Peterborough United in the summer
Ivan Toney scored his 11th goal of the season to give Brentford a narrow victory at in-form Barnsley.
The striker glanced Mathias Jensen's corner across goal and into the bottom right-hand corner midway through the second half.
In a game of few chances, Toney was denied a second from close range by Jack Walton and the Tykes keeper then saved a late effort from substitute Marcus Forss.
It was a first win in four for the Bees, last season's beaten play-off finalists, who had drawn four of their previous five games.
Thomas Frank's side move up to eighth and are two points off the top six, although the four clubs in the play-off places are all in action on Wednesday.
- Relive Tuesday's EFL action
Barnsley, who had won four of their first five matches under new boss Valerien Ismael, were unchanged for the third game in a row.
A tight first half saw Rico Henry fire narrowly wide for the visitors, while Tykes midfielder Alex Mowatt had a low strike parried away by Bees keeper David Raya.
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo fired just over the bar after the break before Toney broke the deadlock with the west London club's first goal in three games.
Ismael made a triple change after Toney's opener but the hosts lacked inspiration in the final third, although they did have appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Darren Bond after Victor Adeboyejo's cross hit Vitaly Janelt.
Brentford, who secured a third successive clean sheet, are now unbeaten in six games.
Barnsley head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We expected the best opponent in possession with a lot of quality. It is not easy to press an opponent like that because they are very calm and try to lure you.
"We need another approach to be more patient, and aggressive in some others.
"Out of possession we were really good but in possession we were not clinical enough in some situations. We have to work on this.
"It is a bit frustrating, but it was another level for us. It was like chess."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBarnsley
- 1Walton26Sollbauer30Helik6Andersen7Brittain32JamesSubstituted forKaneat 71'minutes27MowattSubstituted forOduorat 71'minutes4Styles11ChaplinBooked at 40minsSubstituted forAdeboyejoat 71'minutes9Woodrow28FrieserSubstituted forThomasat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Kane16Thomas19Schmidt21Palmer22Oduor25Miller29Adeboyejo34Moon40Collins
Brentford
- 1Raya22Dalsgaard18Jansson5Pinnock3Henry8Jensen27Janelt14DasilvaSubstituted forMarcondesat 45'minutes19MbeumoSubstituted forCanósat 77'minutes17ToneySubstituted forForssat 87'minutes24Fosu-HenrySubstituted forGhoddosat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Thompson7Canós9Marcondes15Forss20Ghoddos28Daniels29Bech Sørensen33Hammar34Pressley
Referee:Darren BondMatch StatsHome TeamBarnsleyAway TeamBrentfordPossessionHome32%Away68%ShotsHome3Away13Shots on TargetHome1Away6CornersHome2Away12FoulsHome10Away6Live TextPost update
Match ends, Barnsley 0, Brentford 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Barnsley 0, Brentford 1.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Jack Walton.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Marcus Forss (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sergi Canós.
89'Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Michal Helik.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Marcus Forss replaces Ivan Toney.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Tariqe Fosu-Henry.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt following a fast break.
85'Post update
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pontus Jansson.
84'Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Callum Brittain.
83'Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Clarke Oduor.
81'Post update
Rico Henry (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
81'Post update
Foul by Herbie Kane (Barnsley).
79'Post update
Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
79'Post update
Callum Styles (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77'Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Sergi Canós replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
74'Post update
Attempt saved. Pontus Jansson (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ethan Pinnock with a cross.
74'Post update
Attempt missed. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ethan Pinnock with a cross following a corner.
74'Post update
Attempt blocked. Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a cross.
74'Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Callum Brittain.
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Source: bbc.com