Barnsley are only outside of the League One play-off places on goal difference following a 2-0 win over Coventry City, who they are now level with.

Marc Roberts got his first Reds goal in the tenth minute then set up Ashley Fletcher to make it 2-0 on the hour-mark. Barnsley are now seventh having been bottom of the league in December. 

Caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom, who has now won four of his six games in charge, kept an unchanged side from the one that won at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Fletcher should have put the hosts ahead after a minute but he headed George Williams' perfect left-wing cross too close to visiting goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook who tipped over.

Charles-Cook also denied Lloyd Isgrove after an excellent run but was eventually beaten from the resultant Conor Hourihane corner as Roberts headed into the top corner.

Adam Davies fumbled wide a long-range effort from League One top-scorer Adam Armstrong while Charles-Cook had to make a better save at the other end to keep out Hourihane's 25-yarder.

Barnsley had a strong shout for a penalty when their former player Marcus Tudgay appeared to take out Marley Watkins in the box but it was not given and John Fleck almost punished them when he fired wide from just inside the box on the stroke of half-time.

Barnsley then brought on Josh Scowen and Harry Chapman on at half-time for Winnall and Isgrove as they switched to a 4-5-1.

Chapman forced an excellent save from Charles-Cook who then gifted Barnsley a second goal when he missed Hourihane's free-kick and Roberts headed across goal for Fletcher to tap in.

There were good chances for a third goal missed by Chapman and Mawson with the latter also saving off the line in injury-time to ensure the victory and clean sheet.