Stephen Dawson's second goal in three games has given Barnsley a surprise half-time lead over Millwall at The Den.
The hosts should have taken the lead on 27 minutes, after Darius Henderson had been brought down in the penalty area by Scott Wiseman.
However, Henderson took the spot kick himself and blazed it high and wide.
Dawson punished that error four minutes later, tapping home from close range after Chris Dagnall had been denied by David Forde.