Coventry City

Adam Armstrong netted another brace as Ryan Kent and Cole scored their first goals for the club, as Josh Scowen scores a double and Alfie Mawson notched for Barnsley.

Cole started his first game at the Ricoh, while Kent and Jim O’Brien returned to the starting XI after solid second-half performances against Peterborough. Marc Antoine Fortune dropped to the bench.

City got off to the best possible start as Kent made it 1-0 within two minutes. Collecting John Fleck’s pass, Kent down the left, used his pace to drive past Barnsley’s Reece Wabara before cutting in and curling a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

Tony Mowbray’s men had much of the possession and chances from that point and increased their lead in the 19th minute, thanks to in-form front-man Adam Armstrong. Aaron Phillips was released down the right, and cut it back superbly for the forward, who made no mistake placing it underneath Adam Davies, and into the bottom right.

The Sky Blues had a chance to increase their lead five minutes from half-time, as Sam Ricketts, from a free-kick, played it to John Fleck who went on a run through the middle of the park before shooting from 20 yards out, but his shot was gathered comfortably by Davies.

Just before the break, the Tykes had their first real chance to pull a goal back. Some miscommunication at the back for City almost left Ben Pearson through on goal, but Reice Charles-Cook was out quickly to smother the ball.

However, Barnsley were out of the gate quickly in the second-half and pulled a goal back within three minutes of the restart. The Tyke skipper Alfie Mawson heading in a corner unchallenged at the far-post.

But it wasn’t long before the stadium was singing at top volume again as Armstrong grabbed his second four minutes later. A lovely flick on from O’Brien put Armstrong clean through on goal who tucked it away into the bottom right.

Barnsley maintained good attacking tempo and got another goal as Scowen got in behind and struck a shot across the face of goal into the corner, in the 53rd minute.

Then, possibly, the moment of the night came six minutes later, as Cole majestically curled a free-kick from 25 yards out into the top corner, to give the Sky Blues the lead and send the fans wild. This deservedly earned him a standing ovation, when he was later substituted for Jacob Murphy.

The Tykes were still dangerous on the attack and looked close to again reducing City’s lead to one goal in the 62nd minute. A long throw from the left hand-side was headed on and almost crept into the top-left, but Charles-Cook reacted quickly to tip it over.

Throughout the last 15 minutes, it was largely end-to-end stuff with both sides looking to increase their goal tally. Barnsley did just that, but in the final minute as Scowen netted his second goal of the game from the spot to wrap up a thrilling contest at the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry City: Charles-Cook, Phillips, Martin, Ricketts, Stokes, Kent (Tudgay 69), Vincelot, Fleck, O'Brien (Lamerias 59), Cole (Murphy 59), Armstrong.

Subs: Burge, Haynes, C Thomas, Lameiras, Murphy, Fortune, Tudgay.

Barnsley: Davies, Wabara, Smith, Mawson, Nyatanga, Roberts, Scowen, Isgrove, Pearson, Winnall (Jackson 84), Smith(Wilkinson58).

Subs: Townsend, Bree, Abbott, Maris, Templeton.

Yellow Cards: R Wabara, C Wilkinson, R Vincelot, B Pearson,

Referee: M Bull