COVENTRY CITY 4-0 BARNSLEY BY KEV MONKS
Team
Konstantopoulos,Osbourne, De Zeeuw (Dann 85), Ward, Fox, Tabb, S Hughes, Doyle,Gray (Davis 82),Mifsud (Simpson 72), Best. SNU Cairo, M Hughes.
Barnsley
Warner,Tininho,Nyatanga,Foster,Souza,Campbell-Ryce (Devaney 46), Anderson, Howard, Leon (Odejayi, 70); Nardiello (Ferenczi, 62), Macken. SNU Hassell,Coulson
HT CCFC 1-0 BFC FT CCFC 4-0 BFC
Goals Leon Best (36 & 83), Julian Gray (69), Jay Tabb (74)
Ref M.Russell. Booked Fox, Macken,Nardiello,Howard
ATT 16,449
Man Of The Match - Leon Best took the vote with nominations for Stephen Hughes and Jay Tabb.
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STARTING FORMATION
Iain Dowie made two changes from the side which lost at Hull on Tuesday. Julian Gray replaced Liam Davis and the departed Dele Adebola was replaced by Leon Best. Despite injury worries, Dimi Konstantopolous kept his place in goal.
Mifsud Best
Gray Doyle S.Hughes Tabb
Fox Ward De Zeeuw Osbourne
Konstantopolous
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CITY SUPPORT
This was my 1750th City first team game and I was joined for the occasion by supporters from Northern Ireland and Wales in a crowd just below 16,500 which included 742 Tykes.
Being a "Family" day, there was a lot of free tickets given out which helped boost the crowd especially in the corner of the CT Stand.
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"Can We Play You Every Week?" sang delighted City supporters as Coventry City scored four goals against Barnsley for the third consecutive game.
Iain Dowie, who had failed to sign Birmingham pair Martin Taylor and Gary McSheffrey in the week and having allowed Dele Adebola and Kevin Kyle to leave, had no hesitation in starting with Leon Best.
Now, the striker who was booed by some sections of the crowd during the win over Millwall last week after submitting a transfer request, was clapped when his name was read out and from the start, set out his stall that he does want to play for Coventry City.
His team-mates were also up for this game after slumping to 20th in the table and with a chilling wind sweeping round the Arena, they set about getting three points.
City should have been ahead inside twelve minutes when Leon Best rose seven yards out and headed over a Julian Gray cross.
Jay Tabb was covering when Isaac Osbourne attacked down the right in the first half but got forward in the 18th minute to meet a neat ball from Best after a step over had taken him past Mustapha Hadji lookalike Souza.
The booking of Danny Fox in the 19th minute for what was given as an over the top challenge on Campbell-Ryce, saw the only boos of the game from the City support, who had found their voices.
Fox, as in the game at Hull, played some cultured balls from his left back role and looked calm under the threat of the former Southend winger.
In the 36th minute, City took a deserved lead. The ball was pushed forward into the penalty area, it was knocked down to Mifsud who clipped it back for Leon Best. The striker, turned his marker and from thirteen yards thumped the ball past Tony Warner and into the net.
It was not until the 42nd minute that Barnsley managed a shot. Even then, Brian Howard's effort placed those in the Jewson Stand in more risk than it did the City keeper.
This was the best first half of football at the Arena for a while and the interval was not required. Simon Davey sent on former Sky Blue Martin Devaney to boost the Tykes who briefly threatened before Coventry kid and pre-season target Danny Nardiello was replaced in the 62nd minute.
With the midfield all standing up and being counted, whilst the defence for once looked solid and in control, City went looking for another goal and found in the 69th minute.
Leon Best was the provider of a cross from the right and there was Julian Gray, all alone on the left hand side of the penalty area and free to pick his spot which he duly did.
Robbie Simpson replaced a quiet Michael Mifsud and was involved in the third City goal which came in the 74th minute. The former Student planted a header which bounced off the crossbar, the former Millwall,Cardiff and Fulham keeper missed the ball which fell for Jay Tabb to head home.
The Barnsley support started to head for home and were followed by more in 83rd minute as City hit a fourth. Leon Best was again the man, getting to the far side of the area and beating off a defender before blasting the ball into the net.
"We Want Five" sang the City faithful and with new £1m signing Scott Dann on for De Zeeuw, it nearly was in the 88th minute. Leon Best was first to a Stephen Hughes shot and buried it from close range. Unfortunately, the assistant referee had long had his flag up and his hat-trick was denied.
There was good applause as the final whistle and for once, we left the Arena happy with a good afternoon's work.