Dom Hyam’s stunning early strike and a late goal from Matty Godden secured another important victory for the Sky Blues against Barnsley at St Andrew’s on Sunday afternoon.
Hyam struck after just nine minutes lashing home a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area to hand City the lead before substitute Godden wrapped up the points with an excellent finish in stoppage time.
The victory means the Sky Blues have achieved back-to-back league wins for the first time this season and travel to Stoke City on Wednesday night in search of another three points to lift them further clear of danger.
Mark Robins made two changes from the side that beat the Millers in midweek with Gus Hamer and Max Biamou starting in place of Callum O’Hare and Godden who dropped to the bench.
The Sky Blues opened the scoring with their first shot of the game when Biamou teed up Hyam on the edge of the penalty area with the centre-back hitting a sumptuous effort into the bottom right corner on the half-volley leaving Barnsley keeper Brad Collins with no chance.
City had a chance to double their lead when Matty James delivered a free-kick to the back post which was met by the head of Leo Ostigard who could only direct his effort onto the top of the net.
The visitors first effort at goal came midway through the first period when a looping cross was headed goalwards by Romal Palmer and comfortably saved by Ben Wilson.
Robins side continued to threaten from set-pieces when Sam McCallum’s long throw from the left was flicked on towards Hyam who couldn’t keep his header down from six-yards out heading narrowly over the crossbar just before the break.
Barnsley came close to finding an equaliser with the final kick of the half when Daryl Dike knocked the ball in-behind for Cauley Woodrow who slid an effort inches wide of the left-hand post with Wilson narrowing the angle well.
HALF-TIME: SKY BLUES 1-0 BARNSLEY
Both teams struggled to create an opening in the early stages of the second half with Robins opting to bring O’Hare and Viktor Gyokeres on the hour mark in place of Hamer and Tyler Walker.
Substitute Gyokeres almost made an immediate impact when Ostigard’s long ball up-field found the striker in-behind the Tykes defence only for Michal Helik to make a crucial last ditch tackle.
From the resulting corner, City worked the ball short to McCallum who drilled an effort wide of the right-hand post from 25-yards out.
The visitors burst into life with 20 minutes left to play when Callum Styles carried the ball into the penalty area before playing in Dominik Frieser down the right-hand side of the penalty area with Wilson smartly keeping out the resulting effort with his feet.
City brought on Godden for the final 15 minutes and he tried his luck from distance with virtually his first touch, firing a half-volley serval yards wide of the left-hand post.
The Tykes created their best opening of the half with just three minutes left to play when the ball broke to Dike at the back post only for the in-form striker to fire wide of the target from close range.
The Sky Blues grabbed a second goal in injury-time when Godden beat the offside trap before cutting inside of his man and producing an excellent finish into the bottom right corner to secure the points.
City could have added a third goal moments later when Gyokeres picked out Godden in the middle only for the striker to shoot straight at Collins from 15-yards out.
FULL-TIME: SKY BLUES 2-0 BARNSLEY
Goals: Hyam (9’), Godden (90’+1)
Yellows: Styles (85’)
Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Julien Dacosta, Leo Ostigard, Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (C), Matty James, Gus Hamer (O’Hare 60’), Tyler Walker (Gyokeres 60’), Max Biamou (Godden 74’)
Unused Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Josh Eccles, Michael Rose, Jordan Shipley, Jamie Allen, Amadou Bakayoko
Barnsley XI: Brad Collins (GK), Toby Sibbick, Michal Helik, Mads Andersen, Callum Brittain, Alex Mowatt (C), Romal Palmer (Halme 57’), Callum Styles, Conor Chaplin (Morris 46’), Cauley Woodrow (Frieser 57’), Daryl Dike
Unused Subs: Jack Walton (GK), Jordan Williams, Michael Sollbauer, Jasper Moon, Clarke Oduor, Victor Adeboyejo