Well can you believe it? A whole 96 days and 2 months have passed since a very different looking Barnsley side were humbled 7-0 at West Brom after Championship survival had been secured a week earlier.
And now we stand on the eve of the 2007-2008 campaign with Iain Dowie's Sky Blues set to make the trip to Oakwell.
It's certainly been a busy summer at Oakwell. Of the 16 players that turned up at the Hawthorns back on May 6th
David Lucas
Luke Potter
Rob Atkinson
Bobby Hassell
Neil Austin
Brian Howard
Sam Togwell
Kyel Reid
Martin Devaney
Istvan Ferenczi
Daniel Nardiello
Simon Heslop
Grant McCann
Peter Rajczi
Nick Colgan
Paul Heckingbottom
11 remain but only FOUR are likely to start tomorrow.
As Paul Hayes, Daniel Nardiello, Anthony Kay, Neil Austin, Marc Richards, Dale Tonge, Paul Heckingbottom( on loan), David Lucas and Peter Rajczi have departed, Simon Davey has spent the summer bringing in TEN new players (at the time of writing) from all over the globe.
In have come Miguel Mostto, Kayode Odejayi, Rob Kozluk, Rohan Ricketts, Marciano Bruma, Dominik Werling, Andy Johnson, Lewin Nyatanga, Dennis Souza and Heinz Muller.
Whatever happens, the best odds are on a debutant getting Barnsley's first goal of the new season.
Coventry also haven't been slow in their recruitment policy. Desperate for a return to the Premiership Dowie has recruited 8 new players including ex Oakwell hero Arjan De Zeeuw, although injury rules him out of an emotional Oakwell return.
Of the current Barnsley crop, Bobby Hassell and Marciano Bruma will miss out tomorrow. Hassell has missed all pre-season with a knee injury whilst Bruma misses out with a broken hand suffered in a collision with Werling in training.
Nyatanga, Souza, Werling, Kozluk, Johnson, Ricketts and Mostto are all likely to start tomorrow with Odejayi on the bench. Despite the signing of 6 ft 6 German goal-keeper Heinz Muller, Nick Colgan should still have the Number 1 slot as the season gets underway.
Probable Line-Up:
Nick Colgan
Dominik Werling
Lewin Nyatanga
Dennis Souza
Rob Kozluk
Martin Devaney
Brian Howard
Andy Johnson
Rohan Ricketts
Miguel Mostto
Istvan Ferenczi
Barnsley go into tomorrow's curtain raiser looking for their first victory over their opponents since the Premiership season. The winless run also includes two 4goal hammerings, 1 last season.
In the corresponding fixture last season Coventry grabbed a 1-0 victory at Oakwell when substitute Wayne Andrews struck just seconds after coming on.
Teams: 28/10/06
BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Reid, Togwell, Hayes (Nardiello 63), McIndoe, Howard, Kay, Williams, Richards (Wright 82), Devaney (Healy 73).
Subs: Heckingbottom, Austin.
COVENTRY CITY: Marshall, Cameron (Tabb 60), Hughes, Kyle, Clarke (Hall 23), Adebola, Duffy, Doyle, McKenzie (Andrews 84), Page, Ward.
Subs: Birchall, Heath.
And it was even worse when The Reds travelled to the Ricoh Arena in March 3-0 down within 38 minutes courtesy of goals from Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud and Dele Adebola Coventry eventually ran out 4-1 winners. Adebola added a second in the second half and Bobby Hassell pulled one back for Barnsley.
Teams: 17/3/07
COVENTRY CITY: Marshall, Hall, Ward, Hughes, Doyle, Adebola, Osbourne (Birchall 72), Mifsud (Cameron 85), Hawkins, Tabb (McKenzie 76), Virgo.
Subs: Steele, Page.
BARNSLEY: Colgan, Heckingbottom, Reid, Nyatanga, Togwell, Ferenczi, Howard (Nardiello 59), Rajczi, Austin (Hassell 52), Devaney (K. Reid 52), McCann.
Subs: Lucas, Eckersley.
If your looking for opening day omens Barnsley have won 2 and lost 3 of their opening day fixtures in the past 6 seasons whilst Coventry have won 4 of their last 6. Coventry haven't lost an opening day fixture since 2000 where they ended up relegated from the Premiership.
Last 6 Barnsley v Coventry Results:
17/3/07 Coventry 4-1 Barnsley (Championship)
28/10/06 Barnsley 0-1 Coventry (Championship)
23/2/02 Coventry 4-0 Barnsley (First Division)
25/9/01 Barnsley 1-1 Coventry (First Division)
21/2/98 Coventry 1-0 Barnsley (Premiership)
20/10/97 Barnsley 2-0 Coventry (Premiership)
Overall Record:
Barnsley Wins: 14
Coventry Wins: 19
Draws: 11
Barnsley Goals: 59
Coventry Goals: 71
Last 6 2006-2007 Results:
Barnsley:
6/5/07 West Brom 7-0 Barnsley (Championship)
28/4/07 Barnsley 0-1 Leicester (Championship)
21/4/07 Barnsley 2-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
14/4/07 Southend 1-3 Barnsley (Championship)
9/4/07 Barnsley 1-0 Birmingham (Championship)
7/4/07 Ipswich 5-1 Barnsley (Championship)
W:3 D:0 L:3 F:7 A:13 GD: -6 Points: 9
Coventry:
6/5/07 Burnley 1-2 Coventry (Championship)
28/4/07 Coventry 0-1 West Brom (Championship)
21/4/07 Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Coventry (Championship)
14/4/07 Coventry 0-4 Preston (Championship)
9/4/07 Derby 1-1 Coventry (Championship)
7/4/07 Coventry 0-1 QPR (Championship)
W:1 D:1 L:4 F:4 A:10 GD: -6 Points: 4
Barnsley finished 20th in the Coca Cola Championship in 2006-2007 with 50 points from 46 games.
Coventry finished 17th in the Coca Cola Championship in 2006-2007 with 56 points from 46 games.
So here we go again. Season 2007-2008. It promises to be an interesting season.
BarnsleyBoy's Ladbrokes Best Bet:
Miguel Mostto and 1-1: 33/1
Barnsley 0-1 Coventry City Match Report
Coventry City Season Preview