FOOTBALL: COVENTRY City suffered their second pre-season defeat on Tuesday night away at Barnsley.
Though Stuart Beavon found the back of the net for the Sky Blues in the second half, goals from Mallan, McCarthy, and Bradshaw ensured Mark Robins’ men suffered a 3-1 loss.
City started brightly with Jodi Jones’ pace causing problems in the early exchanges.
Liam Kelly’s through ball found the wideman, but Nick Townsend was on hand to deny Jones, with McNulty and Beavon having efforts blocked on the rebound.
The home side looked threatening coming forward, but were being reduced to efforts from long-range as Lee Burge made comfortable saves from the efforts of George Moncur and Stevie Mallan.
Barnsley took the lead midway through the first half though as Stevie Mallan’s effort from a tight angle handed the Tykes the advantage.
The Sky Blues responded well and would have been level had it not been for a fantastic save from Barnsley goalkeeper Nick Townsend.
Jones burst forward, cutting inside onto his left foot and curled an effort towards the top corner – but the shot stopper tipped it round the post.
Barnsley’s lead was doubled five minutes before half time when the impressive Jason McCarthy forced a good save from Burge before Stefan Payne finished a simple rebound.
The Sky Blues made one change at half-time, with Ben Stevenson coming on for Liam Kelly in the centre of midfield. It was the midfielder’s initial ball that set-up a chance for Stuart Beavon.
Beavon pounced on a loose touch in the Barnsley defence to bundle his way through and calmly finish over Townsend to reduce the deficit to just the one goal.
However, the two-goal lead would soon be re-established, as Tom Bradshaw bundled home from close-range – pouncing on a lovely ball from Lloyd Isgrove across the six-yard box.
Teams:
Coventry City: Burge (GK) (O’Brien 55′), Grimmer (Di. Kelly-Evans 68′), Willis (Hyam 73′), McDonald (Trialist 73′), Leahy (Maycock 73′), Kelly (Stevenson 45′), Doyle (C) (Shipley 68′), Jones (Trialist 68′), McNulty (Ponticelli 55′), Vincenti (Dev. Kelly-Evans 68′), Beavon (Biamou 55′).
Barnsley: Townsend (GK), McCarthy, Jackson, Pinnock, Fryers, Isgrove, Moncur, Mowatt, Mallan, Payne, Brown.
Picture: CCFC.