Coventry City 3 Barnsley 1: Reds chief Robins left to rue 'a massive opportunity' lost

Manager Mark Robins acknowledged that this defeat at the Ricoh Arena was a 'massive opportunity' lost.

The big freeze wiped out all but seven games in the top four divisions and only three had survived in the Championship.

Victory would have lifted Barnsley five places up the table into 11th spot – only four points off the play-off zone.

Yet they failed to take advantage of other's inactivity and suffered a first defeat in nine league games; two goals in a disastrous three-minute spell doing to Barnsley exactly what the snow has been doing to team buses over the last few weeks, namely putting the skids under their wheels.

"I can't complain about the performance too much," said Robins. "But it is a massive, massive opportunity lost because we have thrown away three points that would have taken us more or less up to 10th.

"We have not defended properly," he added. "And had we taken the chances, we could have been out of sight."

Just to rub salt in the wounds, Coventry manager Chris Coleman described his team's performance as their 'worst' in six weeks. Yet they still won and moved a point above Barnsley in the table.

Robins had made two changes to his side in the wake of an FA Cup third-round defeat at Scunthorpe United seven days earlier.

Striker Andy Gray and midfielder Jacob Butterfield had dropped to the bench and been replaced by Jon Macken and defender Darren Moore.

Bobby Hassell switched from the centre of defence to midfield with Moore taking Hassell's place alongside Stephen Foster at the back.

Barnsley started promisingly with defender Foster striking

the bar with a header in the opening few minutes and a deflected header from Hassell causing chaos in the Coventry area.

Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood managed to keep the ball out with his legs and, in the subsequent scramble, striker Daniel Bogdanovic appealed in vain for a penalty.

Things looked to be going satisfactorily enough for Barnsley until Coventry settled and scored twice in rapid succession.

Striker Freddie Eastwood headed the first after 24 minutes but the goal owed much to the trickery of winger David Bell who evaded Hugo Colace before laying the ball into the path of Stephen Wright to deliver a dangerous far-post cross.

As Robins pointed out afterwards, Eastwood at 5ft 10in should not have been able to out-jump a defender of 6ft 2in.

Midfielder Sammy Clingan then volleyed the second, from the edge of the area, after the ball fell nicely into his path from a flick at a corner.

Robins reacted to Barnsley's first-half display by making a double substitution which paid dividends straight away. Winger Adam Hammill had been on the field just five minutes when his right-wing cross found Jon Macken unmarked in the area for the striker to head home his fifth goal of the season.

Barnsley goalkeeper Steele needed to scurry back onto his line to save as Emil Halfredsson's attempted clearance bounced back off Leon Best.

Halfredsson then wasted a decent opportunity to equalise when opting to come inside rather than shoot after finding space in the Coventry area.

Coventry goalkeeper Westwood pulled off a super reaction save to turn over a shot from Hammill as Barnsley's frustration began to grow.

And just two minutes before the end, Iain Hume was unlucky not to level with a low shot that curled just inches wide of the far post.

Coventry substitute Clinton Morrison added a third in stoppage time with a header that, for the third time in the game, highlighted a problem Barnsley have dealing with crosses.

The final scoreline also flattered the hosts, who were under pressure at regular intervals. It is now 87 years since a Barnsley win at Coventry and this result followed a controversial 1-1 draw last season which so nearly had dire consequences for the visitors as they battled against the drop.

This year, as last, the performance of the match referee was not to the liking of Barnsley's manager.

Robins said: "I have to be careful because I don't want people taking money out of my pocket. I do feel aggrieved. The referee saw everything we did, all the handballs all the fouls, all the little bits and pieces. He will be given a high mark by Coventry. For us it was a disappointing day."

Yet Robins also admitted that some players had not worked hard enough in the first half. If it was anything to do with the cold weather, at least Anderson De Silva and Bogdanovic were able to warm up in the showers long before the rest.

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Bobby Hassell

Wherever he is asked to perform, Hassell is one Barnsley player who can always be relied on to work his socks off and make life tough for the opposition. Certainly did not deserve to be on the losing side with a terrific performance.

Villain: Anderson De Silva

Barnsley's Brazilian midfielder, wearing gloves, failed to shine on a freezing cold afternoon and was not invited to carry on after his poor first half display.

Key moment

24th minute: Freddie Eastwood rises above his marker to head Coventry ahead after Barnsley had wasted early opportunities.

Ref watch

Lee Mason: According to Barnsley manager Robins, Mason will be getting top marks from Coventry for his performance. Unlikely to get many from the losing manager, though.

Verdict

Barnsley should really have won this game but missed a number of good opportunities and failed to deal with crosses that led to goals. Eight-game unbeaten run over.

Quote of the day

Historically, we don't tend to do well or get what we deserve here. That story probably carries on today – although I don't really believe in that sort of thing.

– Barnsley manager Mark Robins is not looking for excuses.

Next game

Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday, Championship, Saturday, January 16, 3pm.