Barnsley and Brighton & Hove Albion head into half time tied at 0-0 following an uneventful 45 minutes at Oakwell.
The match began in scrappy fashion with few chances at either end, but Tykes midfielder Dale Jennings fired a warning shot from long range in the 16th minute that tested Tomasz Kuszczak.
Barnsley gave Brighton another scare in the 20th minute, with Stephen Dawson finding space to shoot following a corner kick but failing to find the target.
Brighton created very little in the final third, their best chance of the first half coming in the 39th minute when Dale Stephens exchanged passes with Jesse Lingard and fired over the bar.