Newcastle were denied an eighth successive win as Bobby Hassell's late equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for Barnsley.
Tykes twice come from behind to secure deserved point
Newcastle United were denied an eighth successive win as Bobby Hassell's late equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for Barnsley at Oakwell.
Kevin Nolan's 10th goal of the season had sent Newcastle into the break in front, but Emil Hallfredsson levelled early in the second half.
Substitute Marlon Harewood restored the Magpies' lead on 78 minutes, but Hassell popped up three minutes from time to grab a deserved point for Barnsley.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton brought back Andy Carroll, who was dropped against Coventry following his arrest over an allegation of assault, while top scorer Nolan was recalled after serving a one-match ban.
Captain Stephen Foster failed to recover from an eye injury in time and Darren Moore took his place at the heart of the Tykes' defence, with Hallfredsson, Hassell and Andy Gray winning recalls to the starting line-up.
Carroll had an early chance to make an impact as he headed just over the bar from Ryan Taylor's cross, with the Magpies roared on by around 7,000 travelling supporters.
It did not take long for the league leaders to make the breakthrough, and Carroll was involved again.
The England Under-21 striker nodded on Taylor's pass and Nolan calmly tucked it past the onrushing Luke Steele in the sixth minute for his 10th goal of the campaign.
End-to-end
Barnsley were far from overawed in an end-to-end opening period, but Newcastle almost doubled the lead after a swift break when Taylor's cross was met by Jonas Gutierrez, who directed his header straight at Steele.
The hosts caused their own problems in the 26th minute when goalkeeper Steele was penalised for carrying the ball outside his area wide on the right, and the resulting free-kick fell to Nicky Butt to launch a fierce effort which was deflected over.
Taylor hit a swerving strike from 25 yards which only just missed the target as neither side was able to add another goal before the interval.
Barnsley boss Mark Robins sent his side out with renewed energy after the interval and they had three corners in quick succession, before Nathan Doyle hit a powerful shot wide of the goal.
Hallfredsson got the equaliser the Yorkshire side's pressure deserved when Anderson de Silva's deflected cross came to him in the six-yard box and he fired in off the bar.
Ryan Shotton and Gray both went close for the hosts before Harewood's shot looped into the net from Carroll's pass to put the visitors back in front.
But the home side kept on pressing and a cross from substitute Adam Hammill was headed in by Hassell.
