We've been better than this and lost, says Paul Heckingbottom as Barnsley beat Birmingham City

Marc Roberts had an early headed chance for Blues against his old club, but was denied by Adam Davies and instead Tom Bradshaw opened the scoring for the hosts moments later.

Ezekiel Fryers doubled the lead in the second half from a free-kick.

Heckingbottom was pleased with the way his players neutralised Birmingham's attacking threats and admitted they have played better this season but not got the rewards that this match brought.

The visiting fans at Oakwell made their feelings abundantly clear as they watched their team fail to score for the fourth game running and drop into the Championship relegation zone.

Heckingbottom said: "We've probably dominated games as much, if not more, than that at Oakwell and either drawn or lost, so it's nice to put in a good performance and get a good win.

"We were in a strong position early doors, which was good. We always want good starts, of course we do. I think the most pleasing bit for me was how we dealt with them.

"The long ball in terms of hitting (Sam) Gallagher or (Lukas) Jutkiewicz, we generally competed or picked up the second, but we still tried to play. It was really important we did that.

"I've just been speaking about hitting the target.

"They think I'm silly when I shout it that much, but cheap goals, you get them.

"I'll not stop shouting at them if they don't hit the target. It's not trying to score, but trying to hit the target. For Fryers' free-kick, he's aiming for goal or somebody to get a touch, that's his idea."