Anyone misguided enough to think Albion were going to romp away with the Second Division after their flying start received a reality check via this first defeat of the season.

The League was won two seasons ago thanks to countless victories by the odd goal, scored more often than not by Bobby Zamora.

All the early signs are that most matches are going to be similarly tight again, decided as Steve Coppell pointed out by a moment of inspiration, a mistake or a goal from a dead ball situation.

On Saturday it was the latter but the loss of Danny Cullip could prove more costly to the Seagulls than the loss of one game.

The absence of the captain robs them of two experienced centre halves following the serious knee injury suffered by Dean Blackwell during pre-season training.

More importantly, Cullip is an inspirational leader. He is strong in the air and organises the defence by sheer force of character.

He will, in so many respects, not be easy to replace while he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained in unfortunate circumstances after only eight minutes at Oakwell.

Teenager Adam Hinshelwood was impressive again at the heart of the back four and versatile substitute Robbie Pethick slotted in comfortably enough to the captain's role.

In all probability, though, Albion would not have conceded the goal that beat them if Cullip had still been on the pitch.

Tony Gallimore, relegated with Grimsby last season, delivered a free-kick with pace and precision from the right flank.

Kevin Betsy met it in a crowded area with a firm header beyond Ben Roberts to open his account for the campaign.

Albion do not have many six footers in the side, especially with Cullip and Blackwell on the sidelines, so defending set pieces could be a recurring problem.

Queens Park Rangers scored their goal in similar fashion at Withdean a week ago.

Roberts and his Barnsley counterpart Sasa Ilic, former team-mates at Charlton, were involved in key incidents at either end of the contest.

Roberts was indirectly responsible for Cullip's injury with a throw to Kerry Mayo which Betsy intercepted.

Albion were suddenly short at the back as a result and Cullip was trying to retrieve the situation when he tweaked his hamstring.

Cullip made his feelings known to Roberts with a verbal volley from long distance as he limped dejectedly into the dugout.

Roberts did not allow the lapse to affect his performance. His handling under pressure from a series of crosses was exemplary.

He also made good stops in the first half from Dutchman Dean Gorre, who gave Paul Watson a difficult afternoon, and another Gallimore free-kick.

Ilic, meanwhile, preserved Barnsley's lead with a spectacular save two minutes from time.

Simon Rodger, not noted for his aerial prowess, met Pethick's right-wing cross with a header on the run which seemed destined for the top corner until Ilic flung himself to his left to keep it out one-handed.

The home side played the last 20 minutes with ten men, Chris Lumsdon seeing red for two bookable offences.

The midfielder had already been cautioned in the first half for a clash with Roberts when he caught Hinshelwood with a late tackle.

He could have no complaints but Albion, Rodger's late effort apart, failed to make the most of their numerical advantage.

Leon Knight, denied decent service, had a quiet first match as a permanent Seagull.

Darius Henderson ought to have scored on the stroke of half time with a header from a cross by Rodger which was blocked, with Barnsley in defensive disarray. Kerry Mayo also had a header from a Gary Hart centre disallowed for offside towards the end of a disjointed first half otherwise notable for five bookings in the space of 11 minutes.

A philosophical Coppell said: "In many ways it was similar to some of the games we've already had.

"There wasn't a great deal to choose between the sides. I felt we were riding our luck with some of the deliveries into the box coming in at pace and we were punished for it eventually.

"I was disappointed once they were reduced to ten men that we did not show a bit more guile, although Sasa Ilic produced a magnificent save.

"The players know they didn't play well but we still had some really good opportunities at the end of both halves."

Barnsley boss Gudjon Thordarson was particularly pleased at beating "one of the favourites".

Being regarded by others as one of the teams to beat after re-entering the Second Division off the back of relegation, rather than promotion and as unknown quantities, will make Albion's task that bit harder this time around.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Roberts (gk) 7; Watson (rb) 6, Mayo (lb) 7, Cullip (cd), Knight (f) 6, Rodger (cm) 7, Hart (rm) 7, Henderson (f) 6, Carpenter (cm) 7, Jones (lm) 7, Hinshelwood (cd) 8. Subs: Kuipers, Pethick 6 for Cullip (injured 8), Oatway, McPhee, Harding for Watson (withdrawn 76).
  • Bookings: Watson (30) foul, Roberts (31) unsporting behaviour.
  • BARNSLEY (4-5-1): Ilic; Austin, Gallimore, Handyside, Ireland, Betsy, Lumsdon, Kay, O'Callaghan, Fallon, Gorre. Subs: Flinders, Hayward for Austin (injured 46), Gibbs for Gore (withdrawn 89), Rankin, Mulligan for Fallon (withdrawn 79).
  • Scorer: Betsy (68).
  • Sent-Off: Lumsdon (31) unsporting behaviour and (70) foul.
  • Bookings: O'Callaghan (20) foul, Austin (21) foul, Hayward (90) foul.
  • Half-Time: Barnsley 0 Albion 0.
  • Attendance: 7,918.
  • Fan's View: Mike 'Gullhanger' Ward.

One of those ho-hum results, really. Makes you talk in clichs. Could have gone either way, had our chances, didn't convert them etc.

Leon Knight had a quiet game but he was due one of those and, besides, he still looked our most threatening player. Darius Henderson showed promise at times but made you pull your hair out at others.

To be honest, Danny Cullip hobbling off was probably the afternoon's most significant event. Sure, dropping three points is a let-down, especially when it's involved a nine-hour round trip and a stop-off at the world's slowest McDonalds, but it's hardly enough to spark a panic.

After all, we're still at that silly point in the season when you can start a match at the top of the table and not even be in a play-off spot by the end. But losing Danny? Makes you a bit jittery, doesn't it?