Coventry 4 (Tabb 27, Mifsud 32, Adebola 38,50). Barnsley 1 (Hassell 79). THE uncatchable and the unstoppable were unmatched by Barnsley at Coventry City. Michael Mifsud has F1 speed; Dele Adebola has the power of an All Black front row. The pair were on form and you didn't need Coventry boss Iain Dowie's BSc in rocket science to know Barnsley had big trouble. Mifsud scored one, Adebola two in a game that was 3-0 at half-time with Barnsley reeling. Dowie, once touted as a possible Barnsley boss, was well impressed, even had a laugh. "I thought Dele was almost unplayable today. There is no question he is the strongest man in the world," he smirked. "How many goals could Michael have had?" he added. As it was, Jay Tabb bagged the other for Coventry and by the time Bobby Hassell headed Barnsley on to the scoresheet it was a little crumb of consolation. The Coventry machine, aided by the Dowie appliance of science, are some team. Unbeaten in six, a good tip for next season's Championship front-running. It was Barnsley's first ever trip to the Ricoh Arena, the tidiest stadium and complex outside the Premiership, I'd say. Will they be back next year? Not if Saturday's showing is the benchmark. But, as manager Simon Davey has insisted from day one in the Oakwell driving seat, one match-day crash doesn't make a relegation write-off. Barnsley head for the forthcoming two-week break still outside the bottom trio and two points ahead of third-from-bottom Southend. Seven days ago, with trips to Plymouth and Coventry looming in the distance, doubtless Davey and his crew would have settled for a point from both destinations. The net gain remains three points, thanks to Plymouth acting above and playing below their station. Like Plymouth, Coventry's season is in a twilight zone of win or lose it doesn't really matter. Promotion and relegation are non-issues. Coventry weren't on a downer following a jammy exit from the FA Cup last eight. They are a team well on the up. Mifsud was their man of the match when they took down Wolves six days ago. Same man, same role on Saturday. The kid, a Maltese international would you believe, is quick, direct and tricky. The warning signs were there for Barnsley as he got behind Paul Reid and whacked in a shot that, similarly incredibly, hit both posts without crossing the white paint. Barnsley's Sam Togwell crashed a 23-yard shot on to the Coventry bar before Tabb's low shot from the brink of the box went in via keeper Nick Colgan's glove. The only real surprise was that Mifsud wasn't the scorer. He remedied that inside four minutes. The football was blue-chip efficient. Pass, centre, shot, goal and the credits went to Stephen Hughes, Marcus Hall and Mifsud. And in that order. It was only a matter of time before Adebola was on the scoresheet too. Simon Davey's view I think we were beaten on the day by a better team. I felt the lads looked tired and we never looked in the game in any department. I am very confident we can beat the drop. There is a belief in the camp that we will stay in the Championship. No matter what setbacks we get, and today is a set-back, we still have the belief that we can go to any team and get a result." Iain Dowie: "It was a very, very pleasing display. This was always going to be a difficult game and we had to make sure we started this game with a huge amount of respect for Barnsley. "I have always said you play off your front men and it isn't being critical of Barnsley but they couldn't handle Dele and Michael. "With Doyle and Hughes, we had people who gave good service and I think the second goal was as pleasing as any we have scored in a footballing sense. "I was very unhappy with the goal we conceded but to criticise would would be churlish because the lads have been outstanding in the last six games."
Part ii By Simon Meeks Mifsud buzzed about the penalty box again, Paul Heckingbottom and Paul Reid couldn’t get a tackle on or a boot in before the feed to Adebola, who slammed home into the roof of Colgan’s net. It was 3-0 and still nine minutes to the interval. Davey needed to deliver the team talk of the century or scheme for damage limitation. As it turned out, Coventry couldn’t bury Barnsley deeper and Davey was able to smile through gritted teeth after the final whistle. “At least we drew the second half ...” But not before another kick up the rear as Coventry registered a fourth. Adebola v Paul Reid was always a bit of a catch-weight contest. As they scuffled, pushed and wrestled for a hit-and-hope clearance into the box by Colin Hawkins, it might as well have been darts player v super-model. Adebola got round the back and hoofed home powerfully. Davey sent on subs right, left and centre. Daniel Nardiello, in for Brian Howard, achieved an ambition of playing against the team he supported as a lad and the club his dad played for. Neil Austin got an early finish to his shift as Bobby Hassell reclaimed the right-back post and Martin Devaney, Wednesday’s two-goal hero, had the other number which was up. Barnsley’s solitary goal was created and finished by the subs. It was Devaney’s replacement, Kyel Reid, who set Barnsley on their way to scoring. His hit from the 20-yard zone forced keeper Andy Marshall into a stretch and palm-over. Nardiello delivered the resulting corner from the left and Hassell ran in to head over from the six-yard-box vicinity. It was something. Not much though for the 1,736 who travelled to support Barnsley. The 182 hardcore fans who went to Plymouth got the better deal by miles. Last Updated: 19 March 2007
