BARNSLEY claimed their first point of the Championship campaign - but have still to score their first league goal.

The Reds had the bulk of the chances in this scoreless skirmish, but couldn't make any of them count in what is becoming a very concerning habit.

The only consolation is that the outcome could have been worse, since the visitors hit the woodwork in the first half.

Barnsley went into the game with head coach Gerhard Struber playing down rumoured interest from American club New York Red Bulls and insisting his focus was firmly on getting the better of former Reds manager Mark Robins and his Coventry side.

The men from the Midlands were chasing a first league win at Oakwell since a 2-0 Championship success in August 2009, six visits ago, although there was a 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory in January 2014.

Barnsley welcomed back centre-backs Michal Helik and Mads Andersen from the suspensions which followed their red cards at Reading a week earlier and forced them to miss the midweek League Cup mauling at Chelsea.

The pair lined up alongside Michael Sollbauer in Struber's favoured three-man defensive line-up, while the boss made two changes from the side which started at Reading, with Callum Styles replacing Marcel Ritzmaier and Cauley Woodrow coming in for Dominik Frieser.

Coventry came into the game having not played since beating QPR 3-2 the night before Barnsley went down 2-0 at Reading.

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But it was Barnsley who made the early running, with Jordan Williams driving over from distance before Callum Styles tested Coventry keeper Marko Marosi from 20 yards out after working a one-two with Luke Thomas from a free-kick.

Thomas was then off target with a shot after Williams surged forward down the left.

But Coventry started to find their rhythm, and forged the best chance of the first half when centre-back Leo Ostigard powered a header against the bar from Gustavo Hamer's 16th-minute corner.

The ball fell invitingly to Callum O'Hare, but he blazed his shot over.Ben Sheaf had an effort blocked by Helik, then blazed the rebound too high, while at the other end, Styles shot over from distance shortly before the break.

Struber made a change at the break, bringing on forward Frieser for defender Helik and switching from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-3-3 formation.

Frieser was soon in the action, heading over from a Conor Chaplin cross, while Woodrow drove too high before captain Alex Mowatt put a shot wide.Barnsley made a second substitution on 59 minutes, Elliot Simoes replacing Thomas.

As the home side continued to push forward, Woodrow had a drive blocked by Kyle McFadzean before Simoes came close with a curling shot from just inside the penalty area which drifted just over.

Patrick Schmidt replaced Chaplin in Barnsley's third and final change with ten minutes to go.

Woodrow had a great opportunity in the 89th minute, but Marosi smothered his shot.

Then Andersen blocked O'Hare's powerful drive to deny Coventry what would have been an undeserved breakthrough.

Barnsley: Walton, Ludewig, Sollbauer, Andersen, Williams, Helik (Frieser, HT), Mowatt, Styles, Thomas (Simoes, 59mins), Woodrow, Chaplin (Schmidt, 80). Subs not used; Oduor, Ritzmaier, Adeboyejo, Collins.

Coventry: Marosi, Ostigard, McFadzean, Allen (Shipley, 69), O'Hare, Sheaf (Walker, 69), Hyam, Giles, Dabo, Godden, Hamer. Subs not used: Rose, Pask, Bakayoko, McCallum, Bilson.Referee: Jeremy Simpson.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 13:16pm
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle's live feed coverage of Barnsley's game at home to Coventry City from 3pm.
  • 13:21pm
     
    The team news is due to be revealed at 2pm. Clarke Oduor and Elliot Simoes could be in contention to start after recovering from injuries while Michael Helik and Mads Andersen are back after suspension.
  • 14:02pm
     
    The teams are in. Barnsley: Walton; Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen; Ludewig, Styles, Mowatt, Thomas, J Williams; Woodrow, Chaplin. Subs: Collins, Oduor, Adeboyejo, Ritzmaier, Simoes, Frieser, Schmidt.
  • 14:06pm
     
    Coventry City: Marosi; Ostigard, McFadzean, Hyam; Dabo, Hamer, Sheaf, Giles; Allen, O'Hare; Gooden. Subs: Billson, Rose, Pask, Walker, Bakayoko, McCallum, Shipley.
  • 14:08pm
     
    The last time the Reds failed to score in the first three games of a league season was in 1992/93 while the last time they did not collect a point from the first three was 2008/09 which included a defeat against tomorrow's visitors. So far they have lost 1-0 at home to Luton Town then were defeated 2-0 at Reading with nine men on Saturday.
  • 14:11pm
     
    After his side’s 6-0 loss at Premier League Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, head coach Gerhard Struber told the Chronicle: “Coventry is a more realistic game, because Chelsea is an outstanding team with a completely different ability to my players – this is the reality. We will learn from the Chelsea game and go with a good feeling into the game on Saturday. Coventry is the most important game of the week, everyone knows this.”
  • 14:14pm
    Former Coventry striker Conor Chaplin added: “A win is huge, let’s get three points on the board and kick-start our Championship season.
  • 14:16pm
     
    “I believe they’ll try and play football, as we do. A good spectacle. Enjoyable one to play in, but one we can be superior in hopefully and get up and running.
  • 14:19pm
     
    “It’s a really good club with great people involved there. It’s a shame how things have gone for them off the pitch, but they’re a club I follow and their fans are superb. I loved my year there, and they were fantastic last season by all accounts.”
  • 14:26pm
     
    Coventry conceded after 19 seconds of their first Championship game in eight years as they lost 2-1 at Bristol City. They then hosted Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening and won 3-2.
  • 14:27pm
    Robins was Barnsley manager from September 2009 until May 2011, winning 29 of his 92 games and guiding them to 18th- and 17th-placed finishes. Since he left, following a disagreement with the board over the budget, the Reds' next six Championship seasons have seen them be relegated twice and finish a place above the drop zone three times.
  • 14:29pm
     
    Robins spent 18 months out of management before a short first spell with Coventry, whom he left to return to Yorkshire with Huddersfield Town and so was in the home dugout for the famous 2-2 draw on the final day in 2013 which kept both sides in the Championship. He was sacked the following year then, after a spell with Scunthorpe United, joined Coventry again in March 2017.
  • 14:31pm
     
    Robins won the Checkatrade Trophy at Wembley the following month and, although he could not stop City going down to League Two, he took them back to Wembley the following year to win the play-off final.
  • 14:33pm
     
    They secured a second promotion in three seasons earlier this year when, after the League One season ended with them on 14-game unbeaten run and eight points clear in the top two, they were promoted on a points-per-game basis due to the coronavirus crisis.
  • 14:34pm
     
    Robins has faced Barnsley ten times as a manager, losing four and winning four. His assistant Adi Viveash – the former Chelsea academy coach credited with helping to implement Coventry's attractive style – also has a connection to Barnsley. He spent the first month of the 1995/96 season on loan to the Reds from Swindon Town and scored on his debut in the 4-3 loss to Crystal Palace.
  • 14:37pm
     
    The Sky Blues have gone down a similar route to Barnsley this summer, signing foreign players including Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer – who has created the most chances in the division so far – German winger Marcel Hillsner and French defender Julien Dacosta. They play an unusual 'box' midfield with two players behind the striker and another two protecting the back three, with wing-backs on the flanks.
  • 14:39pm
    The Sky Blues will come up against some familiar faces in Luke Thomas and Conor Chaplin who both spent the 2018/19 season with Coventry before moving to Oakwell the following summer. Chaplin was in and out of the side under Robins, starting 22 of the 46 League One games and scoring eight goals.
  • 14:42pm
     
    Thomas – who was on loan from Derby County – started 41 league games, coming off the bench in two more, and scored four goals including the equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Oakwell in March last year. That meant Coventry took four points off promotion-bound Barnsley after winning 1-0 at the Ricoh in September.
  • 14:47pm
     
    The draw also ended a run of four straight league losses for the Sky Blues at Oakwell, while Barnsley have not won an away game against Coventry in 25 attempts since 1923.
  • 14:56pm
     
    The warm-ups are finished and the teams are minutes away from coming back out for kick-off.
  • 14:57pm
     
    The Reds are the first side to leave the tunnel, led by skipper Alex Mowatt.
  • 15:00pm
     
    The home side get the match underway.
  • 15:01pm
     
    1 Michal Helik misses a through ball and lets Callum O'Hare in on the visitors' left. A scramble ensues, but it's cleared by Mads Andersen.
  • 15:03pm
     
    3 Free kick for the Reds as Luke Thomas is tripped after exchanging passes with Cauley Woodrow. Callum Styles won the ball back with a good interception in the centre circle and started the counter.
  • 15:04pm
     
    4 Callum Styles forces a save with a left-footed effort from just inside the box. His free kick was sent short to Luke Thomas, who fed the ball back inside for the midfielder.
  • 15:06pm
     
    7 Michael Sollbauer idles on the ball and is robbed by Callum O'Hare, who tries to slide a ball into the box for Matty Gooden but it's blocked by Mads Andersen.
  • 15:10pm
     
    10 Throw in deep on the left for Coventry after a good sliding interception from Michael Sollbauer. It's forced backwards after good pressure from the Reds, who have pressed high early on.
  • 15:12pm
     
    12 Long ball up from Michael Sollbauer which Cauley Woodrow challenges Leo Ostigard for, but the striker can't get his foot to it.
  • 15:12pm
     
    13 A low strike from Luke Thomas fizzes past the far post from the left. He received the ball from Jordan Williams who'd surged up the left wing.
  • 15:16pm
     
    16 An in-swinging corner is almost converted by Leo Ostigard for Coventry, but his powerful header rattles the cross bar. The rebound is fired over by Callum O'Hare.
  • 15:21pm
     
    21 The Reds started well, but the visitors have settled into more of a rhythm now and are penning Barnsley's full backs in. They've probably had the better of the last ten minutes.
  • 15:23pm
     
    23 Luke Thomas advances in the middle after receiving the ball from Conor Chaplin. He threads a good ball through for the advancing Kilian Ludewig, but it's a yard in front of the wing back and collected by Marko Marosi.
  • 15:27pm
     
    27 Ben Sheaf finds some space on the edge of the box and takes a crack, but it's blocked by Michal Helik. Sheaf's second attempt goes over.
  • 15:31pm
     
    31 A free kick on the right for Coventry City after Ben Sheaf is caught by Callum Styles. It's repelled, and then the ball is played back up the pitch and out for a Barnsley goal kick.
  • 15:33pm
     
    33 The Reds get a free kick on the right which is played into the box by Callum Styles. No one can get to it, and it's out for a Coventry throw deep on the visitors' right.
  • 15:36pm
     
    37 A good turn by Cauley Woodrow in the box sees Barnsley win a corner on the right. He'd been played in by Alex Mowatt.
  • 15:37pm
     
    38 Mads Andersen tries to head the ball back across goal but he fails to keep it in as he challenges Leo Ostigard.
  • 15:39pm
     
    39 Mads Andersen pokes the ball out for a throw right by the corner flag, after a ball upfield is headed on by Matty Gooden. It's cleared for another throw, before Andersen is tripped by Jamie Allen.
  • 15:41pm
     
    42 Callum Styles with a wild drive from 25 yards, ending a decent passing move from the Reds.
  • 15:44pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    45 Cauley Woodrow
  • 15:44pm
     
    ADDED TIME
    1 minute added time
  • 15:46pm
     
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Coventry City 0. A corner from Callum Styles comes to Luke Thomas on the edge of the box, but his effort isn't clean and it's cleared in the last action of the half.
  • 16:04pm
     
    Dominik Frieser is on for Michal Helik ahead of the second half.
  • 16:04pm
     
    The second half is underway.
  • 16:05pm
     
    46 Michael Sollbauer heads an early cross over the bar for a Coventry corner from the right.
  • 16:06pm
     
    47 Leo Ostigard gets his head to it, but it's blocked and out for another corner, which is cleared by Alex Mowatt after Matty Gooden's flick on.
  • 16:08pm
     
    49 Substitute Dominik Frieser gets his head to a Conor Chaplin cross from the right at the far post, but it's over the bar from a tight angle.
  • 16:09pm
     
    50 Alex Mowatt dribbles through the legs of several players and cuts onto his left in the box, but his curling strike is high and wide, Great bit of dribbling from the midfielder.
  • 16:14pm
     
    54 Fankaty Dabo wins a corner off Jordan Williams as he advances on the defender, now at left full-back in a back four since the half-time change. Coventry can't do much with it and it's out for another corner, again repelled.
  • 16:18pm
     
    59 Matty Gooden heads wide from a free-kick at the near post.
  • 16:18pm
     
    SUB OFF
    59 Luke Thomas
  • 16:19pm
     
    SUB ON
    59 Elliot Simoes
  • 16:23pm
     
    64 Alex Mowatt receives the ball from Jack Walton and releases Dominik Frieser on the right wing, whose cross is almost controlled by Elliot Simoes in front of goal. The midfielder couldn't quite get the ball to settle.
  • 16:27pm
     
    68 Side netting for Cauley Woodrow, whose strike from a tight angle was blocked after he was played in by Conor Chaplin.
  • 16:28pm
     
    69 Callum Styles' corner is cleared and hit back into the box by Elliot Simoes for the offside Cauley Woodrow.
  • 16:29pm
     
    SUB OFF
    70 Double substitution for Coventry as Ben Sheaf and Jamie Allen make way.
  • 16:29pm
     
    SUB ON
    70 Jordan Shipley and Tyler Walker come on.
  • 16:31pm
     
    72 A good passing move as Alex Mowatt and Dominik Frieser combine on the right. The latter finds Elliot Simoes, who controls before unleashing a left-footed strike that narrowly misses the top left corner.
  • 16:32pm
     
    74 Barnsley have looked more threatening this half in a 4-3-3 with Dominik Frieser and Kilian Ludewig having some joy on the right, but they've not come by any clear-cut chances.
  • 16:38pm
     
    SUB OFF
    80 Conor Chaplin
  • 16:38pm
     
    SUB ON
    80 Patrick Schmidt
  • 16:39pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    81 Callum Styles booked for a foul just inside Coventry's half
  • 16:42pm
     
    83 Another corner from the right for the visitors after Fankaty Dabo is marshalled by Jordan Williams. It's cleared by Mads Andersen but Coventry win another, which sails over the heads of everyone in the box.
  • 16:44pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    85 Alex Mowatt
  • 16:46pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    87 Fankaty Dabo fouls Alex Mowatt on the left. Good position for a ball into the box.
  • 16:49pm
     
    89 Cauley Woodrow with probably the Reds' best chance. The ball is played over the top for Patrick Schmidt, who heads it down backwards for Woodrow to control with his chest before a snap shot with his right from six yards. Caught by Marko Marosi.
  • 16:49pm
     
    ADDED TIME
    3 minutes added time
  • 16:51pm
     
    90+2 Kilian Ludewig with a high cross from the right, but Patrick Schmidt is offside as he gets his head to it.
  • 16:52pm
     
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Coventry City 0.