OXFORD United slipped to a narrow defeat at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Barnsley in a match played in testing conditions at the Kassam Stadium.

An own goal from Sam Long just before the half hour mark proved to be the difference, with United coming closest to a goal through Cameron Brannagan’s thunderous effort, which cannoned back off the crossbar in the closing stages.

Des Buckingham made just the one change to the side which won 3-1 at Carlisle United, as Long returned from his ankle injury and came into the team in place of Oisin Smyth.

It meant the latter dropped to the bench, with Gatlin O’Donkor not included in the matchday squad whatsoever.

The game took 10 minutes for both sides to get to grips with the conditions, as the wind and rain swirled across the Grenoble Road turf.

The first chance though fell to the U’s, as Brannagan directed an inswinging corner to the back post, where Ciaron Brown nodded the ball across goal.

Fin Stevens flicked it on, with Long then heading wide with an instinctive effort.

Mark Harris then sought to take advantage of a poor pass across the Tykes backline, with a slip from centre back Mael de Gevigney allowing extra space to slide the ball across for Stevens, who shot wide.

The away side hit the post after 16 minutes, the closest either side had come to the breakthrough.

Herbie Kane switched play brilliantly over to the left-hand side, where Nicky Cadden smashed the far post with a cross which got caught in the wind and flew over the gloves of Jamie Cumming.

The weather continued to play havoc, and Marcus McGuane spurned a good opportunity after taking advantage of Jordan Williams’ soft backwards header.

However, the U’s midfielder was unable to loft the ball over Liam Roberts, instead producing a weak effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Cumming was put under pressure midway through the half, with his clearance falling straight to the feet of Devante Cole, who smashed the ball over from 20 yards.

John McAtee then prodded wide at the near post from a low Cadden cross.

Barnsley edged ahead just before the half hour mark. Adam Phillips sent in a wicked cross from deep and towards the right-hand side, and although Cole was in the vicinity, the opener was awarded as a Long own goal.

Long’s evening, and return from injury, was over six minutes later, as he left the field clutching the side of his head. Smyth came on to replace him.

Six minutes of stoppage time were signalled at the end of the first half, and two minutes into it, Harris flicked over with a first-time effort from Tyler Goodrham’s low cross.

United lost a second defender to injury two minutes later, when Joe Bennett was forced off, with Greg Leigh his replacement.

The opening half ended with Jon Russell bouncing a shot into the turf and over the crossbar, from just inside the penalty box.

The strength of the wind and rain seemed to go up a notch by the time the players came out for the second period, and they very nearly helped the U’s grab an equaliser.

A slip at the heart of the Barnsley defence allowed Harris to run in on goal, however Roberts spread himself brilliantly to thwart the Welsh striker.

Just after the hour mark, Tyler Burey came on for his United debut, when he replaced Stevens.

The change meant a change in shape for the U’s, as Buckingham switched to a 4-3-3 with Leigh and Smyth moving to full back, and Burey and Goodrham on the wings.

Both teams were finding it difficult to create anything clear-cut, with Brannagan sending a 25-yard shot wide just after 70 minutes had been played.

With six minutes to go, Brannagan went closer than anyone in yellow came to getting on the scoresheet, when he rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort from 25 yards.

United’s midfielder then pinged a shot wide from a similar distance just moments later, however the U’s were unable to find an equaliser.

Oxford United (3-4-3): Cumming; Long (Smyth 35), Moore, Brown; Stevens (Burey 61), McGuane (McEachran 78), Brannagan, Bennett (Leigh 45+4); Rodrigues, Harris, Goodrham.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, Henry.

Booked: Brown, Rodrigues, Smyth.

Barnsley (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, Shepherd; Russell; O’Keeffe, Phillips (Cosgrove 46), Kane (Cotter 67), Cadden; McAtee, Cole (Watters 74).

Unused subs: Killip, Lopata, Atkinson, Bland.

Booked: Russell, de Gevigney, Cosgrove, O’Keeffe.

Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon).

Attendance: 6,703 (307 visitors).