Derby County tasted defeat in the npower Championship for the first time in 2012 in a 3-2 reverse at Barnsley.

The Reds, who weren't in action at the weekend after exiting the FA Cup at the Third Round stage earlier in the month, made their fresh legs count as Craig Done, Andy Gray and Scott Wiseman found the net to put Keith Hill's men three goals to the good by half-time.

The Rams came out strongly in the second period and deservedly got a goal back through Jamie Ward's thumping long-range effort before Tom Carroll's injury-time strike set up a tense finish, but Barnsley held on to take the points.

Nigel Clough chose to make two changes to his side from the side that started Saturday's FA Cup tie against Stoke City at Pride Park. Loan duo Ryan Noble and Tom Carroll made their first starts for the Rams with Paul Green and James Bailey the pair missing out.

Green, with speculation surrounding his future towards the closure of the transfer window, didn't travel to Oakwell with the Derby squad while Bailey had to make do with a place on the bench.

Noble's inclusion in the Derby side meant a return to the 4-4-2 formation which has served Clough so well in recent months after opting with a 4-4-1-1 line-up against the Potters at the weekend. In Green's absence birthday boy Jeff Hendrick lined up on the right-hand side of midfield with Craig Bryson and Carroll the central pairing, while Noble partnered Callum Ball up top.

Barnsley included one-time Derby loanee Michael Tonge in their team for his debut after arriving on loan from Stoke City last week, but recent signings Scott Golbourne from Exeter City and Stephen Dawson from Leyton Orient were not in Keith Hill's matchday squad.

The recent drop in temperatures made for a bitterly cold evening in South Yorkshire and Barnsley forced two early corners as they tried to apply the early pressure, but in reality the opening minutes were fairly even. The home side forced a third corner on ten minutes which almost provided the opening goal, but Frank Fielding stretched with every last inch of his body to claw Stephen Foster's looping header from under the crossbar and away to safety.

But on 12 minutes the deadlock was broken when a crisp four-man move from the home side saw Korey Smith play Done clear on goal and he kept his composure to drill the ball into the far corner past Fielding.

After Fielding produced a fine save from Gray's overhead kick on 20 minutes, the Rams found themselves two goals behind on 23 minutes when Brayford was adjudged to have pushed Done in the box - and Gray did the rest from 12 yards by slamming the ball past Fielding.

David Perkins flashed a shot wide from 30 yards as Barnsley pushed on in search of more goals, while down the other end the Rams had a chance to pull a goal back on the half hour when Ball hit a powerful volley into the ground that forced Luke Steele into his first save of the game.

But straight down the other end Derby found themselves three goals down when Wiseman's lung-busting burst forwards from right-back was picked out by Smith, and the defender kept his cool to chip the ball over the advancing Fielding.

Barnsley's tails were well and truly up and a fine stop from Fielding prevented Tonge from making it 4-0 on 35 minutes - leaving the Rams with a big task on their hands in the second after going in at the break three goals down.

The Rams came out at the start of the second half on the front foot and they saw far more of the ball as they chased a way back into proceedings. Jamie Ward tested Steele's reactions with a dipping drive and Carroll blasted over after some encouraging passages of play by Clough's men.

Nathan Tyson came on for Noble just before the hour to get more match time under his belt after recovering from the groin injury which has hampered his progress in the last month his explosive pace almost provided a chance immediately, but his cut-back to Bryson inside the box was smothered by Steele.

Derby's second-half display deserved a goal, and Ward provided it with 21 minutes left to play. A free-kick on the edge of the box was smashed goalwards by the diminutive attacker - and Steele had no answer as the ball flashed past him and into the far corner.

That goal sparked more pressure from Nigel Clough's men as they piled on the pressure knowing another goal would send the nerves jangling all around Oakwell - and a superb effort from distance by Ward on the volley almost found that much-craved second goal with ten minutes left to go, but the ball whistled just wide.

Deep into four minutes of added time Carroll set up a grandstand finish with a close-range finish, but with barely 30 seconds left the Rams didn't have enough time to mount another attack as Barnsley breathed a huge sigh of relief to hold out for the win.

Despite the defeat, Clough will be encouraged by the reaction of his players in the second half as the preparations now begin for Sunday's local derby with Nottingham Forest at Pride Park Stadium.

Barnsley: Steele, Edwards, Foster, Davies, Done, Perkins, Wiseman (Hassell 87), McNulty, Smith (Noble-Laazrus 78), Gray, Tonge (Doyle 66).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Dagnall.

Booked: Gray

Goals: Done (11), Gray (23 Pen), Wiseman (30)

Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, Barker, Shackell, Roberts, Hendrick, Bryson, Carroll, Ward, Ball, Noble (Tyson 58).

Subs Not Used: Legzdins, Buxton, Bailey, B Davies.

Goals: Ward (69), Carroll (90)

Referee: Mr A Woolmer

Attendance: 10,149 (1,385 Derby County Fans)