Match ends, Coventry City 4, Barnsley 3.
CoventryCoventry City4BarnsleyBarnsley3
Joe Cole's first goal for Coventry City helped the Sky Blues to a thrilling victory over Barnsley in League One.
Ryan Kent's solo effort put City ahead before Adam Armstrong turned in Aaron Phillips's cross to double the lead.
Alfie Mawson pulled one back for the Tykes after the break, but Armstrong doubled his tally moments later.
Josh Scowen's low shot gave Barnsley hope, but Cole's free-kick sealed victory, despite Scowen adding his second from the penalty spot late on.
Barnsley remain 22nd after a seventh consecutive league defeat - the club's worst run since losing eight straight matches in the old Second Division in March/April 1959. Coventry stay fourth, but Tony Mowbray's men are now just a point outside the automatic promotion places.
Armstrong's second brace in as many games takes his tally to 12 League One goals, making him now this season's Football League top scorer.
Coventry's good use of the loan system
All four Sky Blues goals were scored by Premier League loan players.
The opener came from Liverpool's Ryan Kent before Newcastle United striker Adam Armstrong's double - and then the fourth from Joe Cole, who is on a 35-day loan from Aston Villa.
Joe Cole told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"It's nice to get on free-kicks, as I've played with many great free-kick takers like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and I've not taken too many in my career.
"But, most importantly, we got the three points against a side that probably shouldn't be where they are.
"It shows that we should be higher in the leagues. It's up to us players, management and staff to put the club in a higher position, particularly with the facilities and the city."
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Charles-Cook
- 17Phillips
- 21Martin
- 18Ricketts
- 3Stokes
- 4VincelotBooked at 90mins
- 7Fleck
- 40KentSubstituted forTudgayat 70'minutes
- 14ColeSubstituted forMurphyat 62'minutes
- 11O'BrienSubstituted forLameirasat 61'minutes
- 9A Armstrong
Substitutes
- 1Burge
- 6Thomas
- 8Lameiras
- 20Tudgay
- 25Murphy
- 26Haynes
- 32Fortuné
Barnsley
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Davies
- 32WabaraBooked at 12mins
- 4Roberts
- 5Nyatanga
- 3Smith
- 26MawsonBooked at 59mins
- 7Scowen
- 34Isgrove
- 19PearsonBooked at 90mins
- 12SmithSubstituted forWilkinsonat 59'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 9WinnallSubstituted forJacksonat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bree
- 11Jackson
- 13Townsend
- 16Maris
- 17Abbott
- 18Wilkinson
- 29Templeton
- Referee:
- Michael Bull
- Attendance:
- 10,954
Match Stats
Home TeamCoventryAway TeamBarnsley
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 4, Barnsley 3.
Booking
Romain Vincelot (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Ben Pearson (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Coventry City 4, Barnsley 3. Josh Scowen (Barnsley) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Penalty conceded by Aaron Phillips (Coventry City) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Ruben Lameiras (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by George Smith (Barnsley).
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Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Lewin Nyatanga.
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Attempt blocked. Marcus Tudgay (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Marcus Tudgay (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Jacob Murphy (Coventry City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Marc Roberts.
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Foul by Romain Vincelot (Coventry City).
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Simeon Jackson (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Alfie Mawson (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Josh Scowen (Barnsley).
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Romain Vincelot (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Delay in match Chris Stokes (Coventry City) because of an injury.
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Foul by Conor Wilkinson (Barnsley).
