Birmingham City boss hails Martin 'Tiny' Taylor
"It was a great relief for him, but for all of us as well.
"It saved them from getting strangled in the end."
Taylor's goal was made all the more important after Birmingham's automatic-promotion rivals all failed to win tonight.
Blues remain three points behind leaders Wolves, who drew at Ipswich, while third-placed Reading were held by bottom club Charlton.
McLeish has not seen his side win away since Boxing Day, but with the other teams faltering around them Birmingham still find themselves second in the Coca-Cola Championship table.
"It's quite an incredible league," McLeish said.
"We are still in their fighting. It was good spirit from the players, but I'd like to see a bit more quality."
Barnsley boss Simon Davey admitted the draw felt like a defeat after they had led so late on.
The Reds are just a point above the drop zone and, having collected just eight points from their past nine games, Davey knows they can ill-afford to throw away points.
"When you are winning with five or six minutes to go we are disappointed we didn't come away with he points," he said.
"It feels as if it is a defeat.
"We are also disappointed to give away a free-kick like we did and it should never have got through to Heinz. I'll have to look at the video later and see who the culprits are."
Davey felt his side should have had a penalty eight minutes after the break, when Jamal Campbell-Ryce appeared to be pulled back by Larsson.
Asked if he thought the incident warranted a penalty, Davey replied: "Yeah. It was a penalty.
"Jamal's got pulled down, but these decisions go either way. You've got to take the rough with the smooth."
