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.
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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
