Cardiff started brightly but needed Kevin McNaughton to clear Stephen Foster's header off the goal line.

The visitors' appeals for a penalty were turned down just before the break, and manager Dave Jones was sent to the stands for his protests.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink made Cardiff's pressure pay to score with a near-post header on 73 minutes but a late home rally saw Howard head in to equalise.

Cardiff came closest to securing the points in the dying stages when Paul Parry, who had crossed for Hasselbaink's opener, screwed his shot wide when well placed.

Barnsley also had a penalty claim turned down when Joe Ledley appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area.

"If you give players of the quality of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler anything they will punish you.

"Although they got one goal I thought we kept them out superbly, especially in the second half."

606: DEBATE Steve McPhail was my MOM jon1959

"I don't know why they are dropping down if they are not performing in the Premier League.

"They should send them into the Sunday morning football leagues if they need to drop down some divisions!

"The non-penalty was a decision which changed the game even though it was only 0-0 at the time.

"I thought we totally dominated and should have won the game and that decision has cost us."

Barnsley: Muller, Kozluk, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Campbell-Ryce (Devaney 74), De Silva, Howard, McCann, Ferenczi (Mostto 15), Odejayi.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Reid, Togwell.

Booked: McCann, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce.

Goals: Howard 84.

Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae, McPhail, Sinclair (Parry 67), Hasselbaink, Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Whittingham, Green, Gunter.

Booked: McPhail.

Goals: Hasselbaink 73.

Att: 10,709