Barnsley welcome Coventry City to Oakwell on Saturday afternoon for their opening home fixture of the 2021-22 Championship season.

Both sides head into this game after suffering League Cup exits in the first round against lower league opposition.

Match preview

Barnsley were unable to follow up an encouraging 1-1 draw away at Cardiff City in their opening league fixture with progression in the League Cup, as they lost 5-4 on penalties to League One outfit Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday.

After the two sides played out a goalless draw in 90 minutes, the match had to be decided by a shootout. At 4-4, Devante Cole was the last man to step up for the Tykes, but he had his spot-kick saved before Josh Sheehan smashed in Bolton's fifth to send them through to the next round.

New Barnsley boss Markus Schopp admitted that losing on penalties was "the worst way to go out" and believes his side need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Without former manager Valerien Ismael, Barnsley may face an uphill task to replicate last season's impressive fifth-place finish, though they can at least take confidence from their draw at Cardiff last weekend.

Schopp, who replaced Ismael this summer, will have a returning full house at Oakwell on Saturday, which should give his players a much-needed boost. The Austrian will, however, be hoping he is more successful on his home debut this time around, having lost both of his previous two at a new club.

The Tykes also have a poor record against Coventry, after winning just two of their last 10 meetings against them. However, considering Barnsley finished 23 points and 11 places above the Sky Blues last season, they will fancy their chances of opening their account for the new season this weekend.

Like Barnsley, Coventry also fell at the first hurdle in the League Cup, losing 2-1 on home soil against League One side Northampton Town on Tuesday.

The Sky Blues had taken an early lead through Tyler Walker, but the visitors were able to turn the game on its head with a second-half brace from Kion Etete condemning Mark Robins's men to defeat.

Just three days earlier on the opening Championship weekend, Coventry made a magical return to their home stadium for the first time in nearly two and a half years when they came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, with Kyle McFadzean scoring a 96th minute winner.

As the Sky Blues head into Saturday's game at Oakwell, Robins will be keen for his team to bounce back from their League Cup defeat and also improve their poor run away from home. Coventry did win two of their last three away league games in 2020-21, but that was as many as they had done in their previous 20 on the road.

Coventry claimed four points against Barnsley last season and they will be confident in claiming more points this weekend.

Team News

Barnsley made eight changes to their starting lineup in midweek and all those players who dropped out are set to be in contention to return this weekend.

Toby Sibbick and Liam Kitching are set to replace Jasper Moon and Aapo Halme in a three-man defence, while Bradley Collins is expected to start in goal at the expense of Jack Walton.

In midfield, Callum Brittain, Romal Palmer and Ben Williams could all return, replacing George Miller, Josh Benson and Jordan Williams, while Carlton Morris and Dominik Frieser will be hoping to start in attack ahead of Clarke Oduor and Victor Adeboyejo.

As for Coventry, midfielder Josh Eccles is set to miss the first half of the season as he requires hip surgery, while striker Matt Godden (foot) and midfielder Liam Kelly (knee) are also ruled out with injuries.

Robins is set to recall some of the players he rested in midweek, including goalkeeper Simon Moore, Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen and midfielder Callum O'Hare, who could replace Ben Wilson, Josh Reid and Jordan Shipley.

Strikers Martin Waghorn and Viktor Gyokeres are also set to come back into the first XI, which will likely see Walker and Bright Enobakhare drop to the bench.

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Kitching; Brittain, Palmer, Styles, B. Williams; Morris, Woodrow, Frieser

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Dabo, McFadzean, Hyam; Da Costa, Hamer, Sheaf, Maatsen; O'Hare; Gyokeres, Waghorn

We say: Barnsley 1-1 Coventry City

After their opening day victory Coventry will fancy their chances of securing another three points this weekend. However, the away team has won none of the last 13 league meetings between Barnsley and the Sky Blues, and we think that this run is set to continue.

Nevertheless, we are predicting a score draw between two evenly-matches sides, which should be considered a good result for the visitors.

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