Jim O'Brien's 19th-minute goal has given last year's FA Cup quarter-finalists Barnsley a 1-0 half-time lead over Coventry City at Oakwell.
Leon Clarke forced Luke Steele into a good save in the 18th minute, but just a minute later the home side took the lead.
Jean-Yves M'voto flighted a ball over the Coventry defence and O'Brien kept his composure to dink it over the onrushing Joe Murphy to put Barnsley 1-0 ahead.
Cywka then forced Murphy into a save with a well-struck free kick from 30 yards before the Polish striker rattled the post with a curling effort.
