Tottenham found little relief from a season of torment at Oakwell last night. Barnsley scored twice in eight minutes early in the second half after Spurs had had Steve Clemence sent off, and although David Ginola's first goal in the FA Cup kept their hopes alive, they then lost Juergen Klinsmann, who was carried off concussed 10 minutes from the end having suffered a broken jaw. Darren Barnard's 88th-minute goal wrapped it up for the Yorkshire side.

Tottenham physio Tony Lenahan confirmed Klinsmann's injury afterwards. The German international was stretchered off in the 80th minute after his head collided with the shin of Barnsley defender Arjan de Zeeuw, in what Barnsley manager Danny Wilson described as a freak accident. The fear now is that he will be out for the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup. "Jurgen has gone to hospital, but we won't know the extent of the damage until we receive the results of the x-rays," Lenahan said.

With a fifth-round tie at Old Trafford awaiting the winners, last night's contest was as much about finding form for the struggle to stay in the league as prolonging fanciful ideas of reaching Wembley. True, Barnsley did win the Cup in 1912, but they are only likely to echo the theme of that year by going down.

Tottenham's chances of survival may well depend on their winning at Oakwell in the league on April 18th, so they had good reasons to set a precedent last night against a Barnsley team buoyed by three successive home wins.

For the likes of Klinsmann, Nicola Berti and Ginola, Barnsley was not exactly a home from home. But Oakwell's wide pitch suited their style, even if the surface was inclined to cut up. Not that Spurs had much time to contemplate the scene before Espen Baardsen had to react quickly to push away Ashley Ward's attempt to flick Barnard's dipping free-kick past him.

After that the pace and mobility of Tottenham's attack held more promise of a goal, yet the defensive frailties were still there. Just before the quarter-hour, for instance, a slip by Ramon Vega allowed Ward a free passage on the right which took him past Clive Wilson. Martin Bullock took the move on and Baardsen had to beat out a close-range shot at the near post.

The openness of the game offered a sharp contrast to what a relegation encounter might offer. Barnsley were by no means upstaged by the multi-national array of talent facing them as Bullock consistently found space in the approaches to goal.

Barnsley shaded the first 45 minutes in terms of attacking penetration and near misses or shots saved.

Tottenham were enjoying a lot of possession, but the poor quality of their crosses and final passes made it difficult for Les Ferdinand and Klinsmann to shake off Barnsley's defenders.

A goal, however, was not long delayed, but first there was a sending-off. Steve Clemence had already been booked for a foul and when he went down as Jovo Bosancic made a challenge in the Barnsley penalty area Gerald Ashby produced a second yellow card, followed by the red.

Barely had Tottenham's protests subsided than Neil Redfearn surged through to the left-hand byline before crossing for Ward to rise unchallenged and head Barnsley in front after 51 minutes. Eight minutes later Bullock's speed on the break caught Tottenham thinly covered at the back. Baardsen blocked Bullock's shot and he miscued an attempt to score from the rebound. Nevertheless the ball found its way to Redfearn who drove in Barnsley's second from 20 yards.

Ward had a goal disallowed and Barnard hit a post as Tottenham's defence reached the point of disintegration. Then a superbly-flighted free-kick from Ginola offered them hope with 18 minutes left.

Barnsley: Watson, Eaden, Moses, De Zeeuw, Hendrie, Redfearn, Bullock, Bosancic, Barnard, Ward, Morgan. Subs Not Used: Liddell, Leese, Tinkler, Hristov, Markstedt. Booked: Morgan. Goals: Ward 50, Redfearn 58, Barnard 88.

Tottenham: Baardsen, Fox, Ferdinand, Carr, Ginola, Vega, Wilson (Howells 53), Campbell, Clemence, Klinsmann (Brady 79), Berti (Armstrong 68). Subs Not Used: Calderwood, Brown. Sent Off: Clemence (49). Booked: Clemence, Berti, Vega. Goals: Ginola 72.

Referee: G Ashby (Worcester).