Barnsley came into their game against Reading on Saturday in a confident mood that they could give their survival chances a real boost in the Championship. 

The Tykes beat both Fulham and Middlesbrough in their last matches in the second-tier, but were defeated by the Royals at the Madejski Stadium at the weekend.

Goals from Yakou Meite and George Puscas proved to be the difference between the two sides on the day, as Mark Bowen's men pulled further clear of the relegation zone.

The defeat for Gerhard Struber's team means that Barnsley are now sat 23rd in the Championship table, and are five points adrift of safety with ten games remaining in this year's campaign.

Despite seeing dominance in possession, the Tykes couldn't take the chances that fell their way, with the home side making the most of theirs on the day.

We take a look at THREE things we learnt about Gerhard Struber's side after this frustrating defeat to the Royals on Saturday at the Madejski Stadium.

Barnsley need to be clinical in front of goal. 

Barnsley had 23 shots in total against Reading on Saturday, and given the fact that they didn't score once, it doesn't make for the best of reading for the Tykes.

They only tested Reading goalkeeper Rafael once on the day, as the Brazilian shot-stopper made a superb double save to keep them at bay.

They need to convert these chances into goals at the earliest of opportunities if they're to be taken seriously in their bid for survival in the Championship.

Barnsley's wing-backs struggled to get into the game. 

The Tykes have had success in wide areas of the pitch in recent weeks, with the likes of Kilian Ludewig and Clarke Odour making an impact against the likes of Middlesbrough and Fulham in recent weeks.

But both players struggled to get into the game against the Royals as they were kept quiet by Jordan Obita and Andy Yiadom, who caused them problems defensively with their attack-minded styles.

They'll be hoping for an improvement in Barnsley's next game against Cardiff City at Oakwell on Saturday.

There is still hope for Gerhard Struber's men this season. 

There is still room to stay optimistic if you're a Barnsley supporter.

There are ten league games still to play in the Championship, and Barnsley will know that their home form will play an important factor in deciding whether they retain their status in the second-tier or not this term.

They've already shown in the past that they can pick up positive results against some of the higher-placed teams in the Championship when at their best, and so their supporters will know that they still have the ability to pick up points in the near future, especially against the teams around them in the table.