BARNSLEY 1 (Howard 8 (P))
COVENTRY CITY 4 (McKenzie 6, Kyle 51, Gray 65, Mufsud 90)

Reds manager Simon Davey handed starts to Lewin Nyatanga, Rob Kozluk, Andy Johnson, Rohan Ricketts, Dennis Souza and Miguel Mostto while fellow new boy Dominik Werling was on the bench. A problem with his paperwork meant there was no place for Heinz Muller, who watched from the stands.

Coventry handed debuts to new signings Dimi Konstantopoulos, Julian Gray, Michael Hughes and Gary Borrowdale as they looked to start the new season with a bang at Oakwell.

Michael Doyle did his best to stamp his authority on the game inside the first minute as he raked his studs down the back of Howard's leg off the ball after a free kick had been given as City looked to gain the early advantage.

Ricketts gave the Coventry defence something to think about on four minutes as he raced at Isaac Osbourne onl to have his run checked by the City defender's crude rugby tackle. Souza and Johnson went close from Rickett's resulting free kick.

The Reds were behind just two minutes later as Doyle's free kick from deep caught the home defence at sixes and sevens and gave Leon McKenzie the simplest of finished from six yards.

Barnsley were back in the game on eight minutes as Howard's fine free kick looked to be heading for Souza's head on the six yard box only for Osbourne to punch the ball away. The referee rightly pointed to the spot and Howard coolly chipped his spot kick past Konstantopoulos from 12 yards.

A harsh foul against Kozluk gave City the chance to threaten again on 12 minutes as Doyle planted the free kick on the six yard line but Elliott Ward could only head against Nyatanga and away.

City almost got in again on 22 minutes as Gray latched onto a lightening counterattack before shooting straight at Kozluk.

Kozluk's long throw then caused problems at the other end two minutes later as Mostto and Martin Devaney fired shots in on goal but neither could find the target.

Barnsley almost got it right in spectacular fashion on 34 minutes as Devaney sent a fine cross into the area to give Istvan Ferenczi a chance but Konstantopoulos somehow managed to get his hands to the big Hungarian's header.

Mostto then almost got in on 37 minutes as he raced onto Howard's pass but Konstantopoulos was quickly out to smother the danger. The little Peruvian turned provider a minute later as he knocked the ball into Howard's path but this time a Sky Blues defender managed to get in the way of his effort.

Doyle then tried to con Ricketts into a card on 39 minutes as he threw himself to the floor theatrically after the Reds winger had backed into him to shield the ball. The referee rightly gave nothing.

Kevin Kyle really should have put Coventry back in front on 43 minutes as Gray's cross dropped nicely to him seven yards out but the big striker could only head weakl straight at Nick Colgan.

Kyle made amends just six minutes after the restart when he rose highest to meet Jay Tabb's cross and planted a header past Colgan and into the top corner.

More cataclysmic defending from a set piece gave Kyle another great chance on 54 minutes as he coasted in at the back post to meet Doyle's cross but this time Colgan managed to claw the ball the safety.

Osbourne was finally cautioned after a string of cynical and nasty challenges on 59 minutes when he went straight through Souza long after the ball had gone.

Ricketts then did well to cross on 64 minutes but Ferenczi could not get a shot away under pressure from Ward. Seconds later substitute Kayode Odejayi was an inch away from marking his debut with a goal as he shot wide after Johnson had been hacked down 30 yards from goal.

City put the game to bed on 65 minutes and again the Reds could blame themselves as Tabb was given the opportunity to find Gray in the box and the ex-Birmingham winger made no mistake and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

McKenzie was a fine block away from netting a fourth on 68 minutes as he raced into the area and shook off Nyatanga before finding his path to goal blocked by Colgan and Paul Reid as City threatened to run riot.

Howard briefly threatened a fightback on 70 minutes as he danced past a couple of challenges before driving a foot or so wide of the target with Konstantopoulos floundering.

It was all so easy for the Sky Blues again on 76 minutes as Tabb sent a ball in behind Reid for substitute Michael Mifsud to race onto and Colgan had to be at his very, very best to deny the Maltese striker.

Tabb then almost punished some hesitant defending two minutes later as he ghosted into a shooting position but his effort flew a yard wide of Colgan's far post.

Barnsley finally rallied in the closing stages as Ferenczi flashed a header off Marcus Hall and over the bar on 81 minutes although the referee inexplicably awarded City a goal kick.

Odejayi did his best to put some spark back into the Reds on 87 minutes as he raced down the right before finding Ricketts in the area but the winger could only prod the ball through to Konstantopoulos under pressure from Hall.

The fourth came deep in stoppage time as Mifsud easily shrugged off Werling to race into the area before planting his shot into the bottom corner.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Nyatanga, Reid, Kozluk, Johnson (Togwell 72), Mostto (Odejayi 61), Howard, Ferenczi. Ricketts, Souza (Werling 72), Devaney.
Subs: Letheren, McCann.

COVENTRYCITY: Konstantopoulos, Hall, Ward, Doyle, Kyle (Best 72), McKenzie (Mifsud 72), Osbourne, Tabb, Gray, M. Hughes (S. Hughes 82), Borrowdale.
Subs: Marshall, Hawkins.