The Sky Blues snatched a 1-0 victory over Barnsley in the final moments of today’s contest with a dramatic winner from Dom Hyam to ensure that the three points stayed in Coventry.
An early face-off between Gyokeres and Helik resulted in the Swedish striker forcing his way down the left flank before weaving with the ball into the box, however the shot was easily handled by Collins in the opening moments.
The ten-minute mark brought some neat interchanges between Waghorn and Gyokeres, when Waghorn launched a counter attack by winning the ball in midfield and releasing Gyokeres who made an intelligent run to break past the defensive line. With the ball on the left edge of the box, Gyokeres fed Waghorn in the centre but the resulting strike sailed wide.
Helik hoped to get his name on the scoresheet when he connected with a corner for the visitors on 27 minutes, but despite jumping highest, his header was glanced narrowly wide.
Following a foul on Quina on the edge of the penalty area, the Barnsley man then poised himself to take the free kick in the centre, however his shot was blasted well over the crossbar just past the half-hour mark.
The Sky Blues had a promising period of possession on 36 minutes when Callum O’Hare’s brave challenge to win the ball in City’s half preceded a series of patient passing moves on the edge of Barnsley’s box, but the visitors defended well.
O’Hare then answered the call of City fans behind the goalmouth when their shouts to shoot were met with a fierce strike on goal from the edge of the box, however Collins made an acrobatic save to deny the 23-year-old in the last major action of the first half.
Half-time: Sky Blues 0-0 Barnsley
Upon returning from the changing rooms, City aimed to seize control of the second half when Kane instantly made two dangerous crosses from the right flank in short succession. However, neither opportunity was taken and a clash of heads in the second instance led to a stoppage in play for treatment.
Ben Sheaf showcased his tenacity on the hour mark when Kane’s cross found the feet of the midfielder on the edge of the box, and Sheaf scrambled to take a shot among a sea of bodies, however Collins calmly collected.
A newly-bandaged Gyokeres nearly gave City the advantage only minutes later, when his shot from distance had the goalkeeper scrambling.
Barnsley threw bodies on the line to prevent three separate strikes hitting the back of the net on 69 minutes, when neither Waghorn, O’Hare or Allen’s efforts found their intended destination - proof of City ramping up the pressure at a sunlit Coventry Building Society Arena.
The Sky Blues had a golden opportunity to take the lead as the clock hit 83 minutes, when O’Hare laid the ball off to Waghorn who had to stretch to connect with the ball in the centre of the penalty area, but the striker was unfortunate to fire wide.
A minute later, young forward Fabio Tavares was welcomed onto the field to a standing ovation from the home crowd, as Waghorn made way for Tavares’ debut.
The Sky Blues fans continued the noise when the referee declared five minutes of additional time, and City made the most of the opportunity to snatch victory in the final moments. To the roar of the home crowd, City’s attacking persistence paid off when Sheaf’s ball into the box came off a Barnsley man, only for Hyam to smash the ball past the reach of Collins at short range.
Minutes later, referee Joshua Smith brought the contest to a close, ensuring that the three points stayed in Coventry.
Full-time: Sky Blues 1-0 Barnsley
Scorers: Dom Hyam (92’)
Yellow cards: Domingos Quina (68’)
Attendance: 17,104 (605 away)
Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Jake Clarke-Salter, Kyle McFadzean ©, Jamie Allen, Martyn Waghorn (Fabio Tavares 84’), Callum O’Hare, Ben Sheaf, Dom Hyam, Viktor Gyokeres, Ian Maatsen, Todd Kane (Fankaty Dabo, 96’).
Unused subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Michael Rose, Jordan Shipley, Jake Bidwell, Ricardo Dinanga.
Barnsley XI: Brad Collins (GK), Jordan Williams, Callum Styles, Mads Andersen ©, Callum Brittain, Carlton Morris, Claudio Gomes, Romal Palmer (Josh Benson, 70’), Remy Vita (Devante Cole, 77’), Domingos Quina, Michal Helik.
Unused subs: Jack Walton (GK), Jasper Moon, William Hondermarck, Aapo Halme, Matthew Wolfe.