Barnsley finally won their first friendly of the summer in their first game at Oakwell since April.
A very strong Reds line-up saw off League Two Coventry- now managed by ex Barnsley boss Mark Robins- 3-1.
The deadlock was broken on 24 minutes when St Mirren recruit Stevie Mallan was slipped the ball on the right hand edge of the area and after a little turn he rifled an unstoppable drive into the top corner.
The advantage was doubled just before half-time when Stefan Payne, fresh from a six month loan at Shrewsbury got on the end of a deflected cross from Jason McCarthy nodding in a header from around five yards out.
The defensive troubles of the summer resurfaced for Barnsley ten minutes into the second half when hesitancy (which also contributed to Grimsby’s first goal at the weekend) allowed Stuart Beavon to surge through and slot past Nick Townsend who was making his first appearance of the pre-season.
However Barnsley secured victory on 67 minutes when McCarthy again made in-roads down the flanks and his drilled effort was knocked back across goal by Lloyd Isgrove for Tom Bradshaw to tap home with Coventry keeper Lee Burge very unlucky not to keep it out.
This was the first pre-season friendly that Paul Heckingbottom did not give all outfield players in the squad a run-out as he made only six substitutions
Barnsley team:
Nick Townsend
Jason McCarthy
Adam Jackson
Ethan Pinnock
Zeki Fyers
Lloyd Isgrove
George Moncur
Alex Mowatt
Stevie Mallan
Stefan Payne
Jacob Brown
Substitutions:
Tom Bradshaw (for Payne)
Ike Ugbo (for Brown)
Sessi D’Almedia (for Mowatt)
Andy Yiadom (for Fryers)
Adam Hammill (for Isgrove)
Jared Bird (for Moncur)
Unused substitutions:
Adam Davies, Jack Walton, Angus MacDonald, Liam Lindsay.