Several hundred disgruntled Peterborough fans staged a protest calling for the sacking of manager Barry Fry after a late goal by BarnsleyÂ’s Bruce Dyer consigned Posh to a tenth league defeat of the season and left them well and truly in the relegation mire.
Fry, six seasons at London Road and the fourth longest serving boss behind Sir Alex Ferguson, Alan Curbishley and Dario Gradi admitted: “The fans are not happy with things, but I don’t think anyone has been for a while.
“I feel sorry for my players because we should have got something from this game apart from wrong decisions, we could have got back on terms and probably gone onto win.
“Everything is going against us but I have told the players to keep their heads up.” Fry's side was on the ropes after two goals from recalled Barnsley frontman Mike Sheron in the space of three minutes.
The first after 35 minutes was a superb 25-yarder that curled into the corner of the net, before he pounced again to head home Dave Mulligan's cross from eight yards.
Home defender Simon Rea hit the bar with a header before the break and afterwards brought the best from Barnsley keeper Andy Marriott, before Jason Lee headed Posh back into contention 20 minutes from time.
Posh chased the game with Mariott diverting another Lee effort against a post until two penalty appeals in quick succession impressed everyone except referee Phil Joslin.
Dyer ended the fight back claiming his fifth goal of the season with a finely judged lob over keeper Daniel Connor in the final minute of normal time.
Barnsley boss Glyn Hodges was delighted with the result after two cup exits in the past week, commenting: “It’s a big week for us off the field but we put financial problems out of our minds. It was just the result we needed and all three goals were quality, in a great performance.”