The Sky Blues recorded successive wins for the first time this season as a Jordan Willis header was enough to secure victory for City at the Ricoh Arena.
The first chance of the game fell to Conor Chaplin in the 7th minute. The striker was slipped through by Luke Thomas but placed his shot inches wide of the post with Adam Davies beaten in the Barnsley goal.
The home side continued their bright start and Luke Thomas had a shot deflected wide after beating his man on the edge of the area.
The visitors then forced Lee Burge into an excellent save to prevent City from falling behind. An under-hit back pass from Junior Brown allowed Jacob Brown to go through one on one with Burge, but the goalkeeper made an excellent save and tipped the ball on to the post to keep the score level.
The Reds sustained their pressure and almost took the lead in the 21st minute, once more through Brown. Mamadou Thiam’s low cross caused problems for the City defence but Browns first time effort went just wide of the post.
After a bright start the Sky Blues found themselves on the back foot and Barnsley striker Kieffer Moore was next to try his luck for the away side. However, his shot flew harmlessly wide from the edge of the box.
Jacob Brown was a constant threat for Daniel Stendel’s side throughout the first half and forced Burge to make another save just after the half hour mark. A Barnsley corner was cleared, only as far as Brown, but his volley was straight at the City goalkeeper.
Jordan Shipley had a chance to put the Sky Blues ahead just before the break after good work from Luke Thomas. The winger escaped a couple of Barnsley challenges before teeing up Shipley, whose shot cleared the crossbar.
Lee Burge continued his excellent form after the restart. Mamadou Thiam cut in from the left-hand side and his shot produced a fantastic one handed save from Burge, who tipped it over the bar.
Barnsley should have been ahead after 58 minutes, again through Jacob Brown. A fantastic cross field pass from Thiam was met by Cavare, who found Brown unmarked in the area, but he blazed a volley over from close range.
Reds striker Kieffer Moore was next to test Burge in the second half. The striker got the better of Jordan Willis, but his volley was tame and comfortable for the City shot-stopper to deal with.
Jonson Clarke-Harris had a chance to break the deadlock but he failed to connect cleanly with his effort. A free kick was floated in by Michael Doyle and it fell to the striker just inside the area, but his volley flew wide of Davies’ goal.
Chances were being created at both ends and moments later Barnsley substitute George Moncur had a chance to put the away side ahead. He raced through on goal, but the ball ran away from the midfielder, and his sliding effort was straight at Burge from a tight angle.
The Sky Blues took the lead in the 79th minute through Jordan Willis. A Michael Doyle free kick caused havoc in the box and Junior Brown’s header across the face of goal was nodded in at the back post by the diving Willis to put City 1-0 up.
Conor Chaplin was then inches away from doubling the lead just minutes later. The forward disposed Barnsley defender Liam Lindsay and his curling shot from 20 yards out sailed narrowly wide.
The away side were in desperate search of a goal as the clocked ticked down, but the Sky Blues soaked up the Tykes’ pressure and held on to their lead to make it back to back wins for the first time this season.
Next up for City is an away trip to Bristol Rovers, where Mark Robins’ men will be looking to make it three wins on the spin at the Memorial Stadium.
Sky Blues Xl: Lee Burge (GK), Dujon Sterling, Dom Hyam, Jordan Willis, Junior Brown, Michael Doyle (C), Tom Bayliss, Jordan Shipley (67’), Luke Thomas (88’), Conor Chaplin, Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Subs: Liam O'Brien (GK), Tom Davies, Jordon Thompson, Liam Kelly (67’), Tony Andreu, Jordy Hiwula, Amadou Bakayoko (88’)
Barnsley XI: Adam Davies (GK) (C), Kenny Dougall, Ethan Pinnock, Liam Lindsay, Dimitri Cavare, Kieffer Moore, Mike Bahre (64’), Daniel Pinillos, Mamadou Thiam, Alex Mowatt, Jacob Brown (72)
Subs: Jack Walton (GK), Cameron McGeehan, George Moncur (64’), Jared Bird, Adam Jackson, Ben Williams, Victor Adeboyejo (72)
Attendance: 11, 465 (1,800 away)