Two Red Cards And Still No Win

£1.2m striker Iain Hume was sent off and Barnsley entered the Championship relegation zone with the season just two games old. Today's defeat to a pretty mediocre Coventry side meant Barnsley have made their worst start to a season since 1991-1992 when they lost to Plymouth, Sunderland and Brighton in the opening three games (all in the league).

For supporters looking for a crumb of comfort amongst the poor showing so far, the last time The Reds lost their first two league games, they ended up getting to the Play-Off Final in 1999-2000.

That year though The Reds boasted a squad packed with quality players such as Darren Barnard, Craig Hignett, Neil Shipperley and Bruce Dyer and had in charge a wily veteran called Dave Bassett who knew all about gaining promotions. And whilst I refuse to join the ever growing band of "Davey Outers" just yet, the pressure will surely be mounting on the young Welshman if results do not improve, and they are not likely to improve much in the next two games- newly relegated Birmingham City and Derby County.

Everything about today's game was eerily reminiscent of last season's meeting. An attendance of just over 12,000, the first game of the season at Oakwell, Coventry taking the lead before Brian Howard scoring to level the scores for half-time. It was only due to small mercies that Coventry did not plunder four goals again.

I have witnessed two matches this season (Crewe and Coventry) and the same problems are occurring. On the ball The Reds look pleasing, nice little passing movements with Spaniard Diego Leon at the forefront of it but with a killer touch alarmingly missing and the opposition goal-keeper barely tested.

Again Barnsley started well. After being led out by a firework display they were nearly in front with less than a minute gone.

Captain Brian Howard picked out Jon Macken whose delightful ball looked to be leaving Hume with a tap-in before Elliott Ward got back to clear the danger.

On six minutes Leon's free kick forced a smart stop from Coventry keeper Keiron Westwood and hopes for a home win were looking good.

And then it happened. Just like it did at Crewe and apparently at QPR, The Reds were undone with the opposition's first real attempt.

On 12 minutes Freddy Eastwood, far on the right curled what looked like a cross into the Barnsley area but as everybody stood still the ball was allowed to travel and creep into the far corner of the net past a static Luke Steele.

Seven minutes later Coventry nearly made it 2-0. The Reds defence was again left standing as Daniel Fox delivered a free kick which Ward headed towards the far corner but luckily the ball came back off the post.

As half time approached it looked like Barnsley were heading for a first half blank before two incidents a minute before the break swung the game.

Firstly, Coventry striker Clinton Morrison blatantly punched the ball away from Darren Moore in the Coventry area and amazingly referee Steve Bratt gave the visitors a free kick! This seemed to spur the players and fans on and within seconds came the equaliser.

Macken released debutant Gary Teale down the right and his first time low cross was smashed brilliantly into the top corner by Howard.

Simon Davey's half-time words of (ill)wisdom again failed to pay off as any momentum Barnsley had won by scoring the equaliser was lost as Coventry came out flying. They were unbelievably close to regaining the lead within three minutes of the restart as Michael Mifsud's pullback found Eastwood unmarked but Steele made an incredible stop to deny him. The best The Reds could muster was Howard blazing high over the bar after being teed up by Leon.

And on 68 minutes Coventry broke in spectacular fashion.

A long kick up field from Westwood found Eastwood who released Julian Gray in space and he curled an effort around Steele into the far corner.

It was a lead Coventry never looked like relinquishing. Any hopes it could be were extinguished with ten minutes remaining as Hume received a second booking for a crude challenge on Mifsud.

Coventry then nearly put the icing on the cake at the death as Michael Doyle's stinging effort was well rebuffed by Steele.

A trip to an on fire Birmingham City is next up. In that glorious year of 1999-2000 The Reds went to St Andrews Stadium and won 4-0 in the Play-Off Semi-Finals. Its their only victory there in 14 years. Don't bet on another!

At Oakwell: