COVENTRY City secured their second league win on the bounce over ten-man Barnsley at Oakwell thanks to strikes from Freddy Eastwood and Julian Gray.

City took the lead through Eastwood after 11 minutes despite enduring a difficult first 45 minutes which saw Brian Howard net an equaliser just before the break.

But Gray linked up with Eastwood seven minutes after the hour mark to reinstate the Sky Blues' lead and hand them the three points.

Eastwood bagged his first competitive strike for the club early on, the Welsh international's cross-cum shot finding its way through a packed penalty box to creep past Barnsley 'keeper Luke Steele.

But Brian Howard grabbed a just equaliser for the hosts two minutes before the interval, connecting on the half volley with a cross from Gary Teale.

Barnsley controlled proceedings for much of the first half, Sky Blues 'keeper Keiren Westwood called upon three times early on to palm a way a dangerous cross from Iain Hume after three minutes and a point-blank headed effort from Darren Moore and a dangerous near-post free-kick effort from Diego Leon in quick succession two minutes later.

Eastwood gave City the lead against the run of play though, picking the ball up on the right wing and swinging in a low cross which evaded everyone including the ensuing Clinton Morrison to trickle into the net.

Elliott Ward nearly made it 2-0 soon after, Danny Fox's free-kick floating to the waiting centre-half at the far post only for Ward's cross-goalmouth effort to rebound off the post.

Barnsley deserved their equaliser though after a confident opening 45 minutes seemingly out of character to their so-far disappointing start to the season.

Teale latched on to a through ball on the right and hit a first-time cross at the right height for Howard to smash home, leaving the impressive Westwood with no chance.

Coventry turned the tide in the second half after being hampered by a strong wind for the opening 45 minutes.

And they got the second period off to a good start, Michael Mifsud cutting inside the penalty box and playing across to Eastwood whose powerful shot was turned away by Steele.

Gray and Eastwood showed signs of good link up play after 50 minutes, the pair exchanging one-touch passes before Gray whipped in a cross which fell to Eastwood whose shot was deflected away for a corner.

But they linked up more successfully six minutes after the hour mark when Eastwood called for the ball from his 'keeper who duly delivered, allowing Eastwood to take the ball away from Bobby Hassell on the left and then Darren Moore before sliding in Gray on the overlap, the winger then curling a shot around Steele and just inside the far post.

Barnsley's task was made even more difficult when Iain Hume was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, bringing down Eastwood near the corner flag 11 minutes from time.

But despite being a man down, the Tykes had a late half-chance to level through Diego Leon, the ball falling to the South American at the far post although his low effort was equalled by the impressive Westwood who got his body behind the effort.

Attendance: 12,987

Coventry City: Westwood; Ward, Dann, Fox, Tabb; Mifsud (Doyle 86), Gray (McKenzie 78), Gunnarsson, Beuzelin, Eastwood, Morrison (Simpson 84)
Subs not used: Ireland (GK), Turner

Barnsley: Steele; Foster, Moore, Hassell (Odejayi 85), Souza, Devaney, Leon, Howard, Teale (Rigters 73), Hume, Macken
Subs not used: Mostto, Atkinson, Butterfield