Barnsley had full-back Rob Kozluk sent off as Coventry won at Oakwell for the fourth successive season.
The Sky Blues went ahead early when Leon Best hammered a free-kick into the roof of the net after Clinton Morrison was fouled on the edge of the box.
And Morrison sealed it late on from Isaac Osbourne's cross after Kozluk had departed for two bookable offences.
The only bright spot for Barnsley was the return of Iain Hume, nine months after suffering a fractured skull.
Hume, who suffered the injury in a game against Sheffield United, was introduced as a sub by manager Simon Davey as Barnsley tried to rescue something from a game which the visitors had largely controlled since Best's eighth-minute strike.
They were already down to 10 men by then, with Kozluk having been shown the red card following two fouls in the space of as many minutes, the second on Aron Gunnarsson.
Midfielder Jacob Butterfield, who scored his first goal for Barnsley in last weekend's 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, went close to another when he fired a shot narrowly wide.
But hopes of an equaliser were snuffed out when Morrison found the space for a well-taken volley beyond keeper Luke Steele to register his third goal of the season.
Barnsley manager Simon Davey:
"It was a sending off because they were two bad tackles. They were probably the only decisions the referee got right all day.
"He gave them a free-kick for no reason which they scored from and there were a lot of decisions he got wrong.
"We didn't play well and didn't create enough chances. The performance wasn't acceptable and a few players have to look over their shoulders."
Coventry manager Chris Coleman:
"Barnsley have been playing very well so we knew it was going to be hard and I thought we thoroughly deserved the three points.
"Leon practises free-kicks every day in training and he despatched it in the best way.
"There are another 44 games to go so there's a long way to go. We've got a better feeling in the squad than last year, but we still need to improve and I'm hoping to bring one or two in."
90:00+3:59 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:39 Free kick crossed right-footed by Iain Hume, Isaac Osbourne manages to make a clearance.
90:00+2:39 Booking Michael McIndoe is cautioned.
90:00+2:30 Unfair challenge on Adam Hammill by Michael McIndoe results in a free kick.
90:00+0:54 Sammy Clingan takes a long range shot clearing the bar.
85:50 Shot from long range by Adam Hammill goes wide of the left-hand post.
84:03 Ben Turner concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Hume. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Iain Hume from right wing, Stephen Wright makes a clearance.
82:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill, Jermaine Grandison makes a clearance. Iain Hume takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Clinton Morrison.
80:57 Assist on the goal came from Isaac Osbourne.
80:57 GOAL - Clinton Morrison:Barnsley 0 - 2 Coventry Clinton Morrison finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Barnsley 0-2 Coventry.
79:18 The ball is sent over by Bobby Hassell, Kayode Odejayi takes a shot. Comfortable save by Keiren Westwood.
79:18 Substitution (Coventry) makes a substitution, with Sean Jeffers coming on for Leon Best.
79:18 Foul by Jermaine Grandison on Iain Hume, free kick awarded.
78:18 Substitution Jacob Butterfield goes off and Onome Sodje comes on.
78:18 Michael McIndoe takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
77:05 Sammy Clingan crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jamal Campbell-Ryce makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Michael McIndoe, clearance made by Anderson De Silva.
77:05 Booking Jacob Butterfield goes into the referee's book.
76:52 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jacob Butterfield on Isaac Osbourne.
74:46 Leon Best takes a shot. Save made by Luke Steele.
73:20 Leon Best challenges Darren Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Steele.
71:30 Substitution Martin Cranie goes off and Jermaine Grandison comes on.
65:46 Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Iain Hume coming on for Jonathan Macken.
65:46 Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Kayode Odejayi coming on for Daniel Bogdanovic.
65:46 Jonathan Macken handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Martin Cranie.
65:23 Aron Gunnarsson has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
64:08 Short corner taken by Michael McIndoe from the right by-line.
62:55 Unfair challenge on Bobby Hassell by Stephen Wright results in a free kick. Bobby Hassell restarts play with the free kick.
62:13 Isaac Osbourne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jacob Butterfield. Free kick taken by Jacob Butterfield.
60:58 Jacob Butterfield has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
58:42 Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
58:42 Sent off Robert Kozluk receives a red card for second bookable offence.
58:18 Robert Kozluk challenges Aron Gunnarsson unfairly and gives away a free kick.
57:42 Isaac Osbourne fouled by Adam Hammill, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Aron Gunnarsson.
56:29 Keiren Westwood takes the direct free kick.
56:29 Booking The referee shows Robert Kozluk a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
56:21 Foul by Robert Kozluk on Stephen Wright, free kick awarded.
55:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Turner by Daniel Bogdanovic. Keiren Westwood takes the direct free kick.
52:30 Aron Gunnarsson takes a shot. Luke Steele makes a fantastic save. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Michael McIndoe, save by Luke Steele.
52:04 Adam Hammill delivers the ball, Isaac Osbourne makes a clearance.
49:36 Stephen Wright fouled by Jonathan Macken, the ref awards a free kick. Martin Cranie takes the direct free kick.
48:23 Michael McIndoe fouled by Anderson De Silva, the ref awards a free kick. Sammy Clingan shoots direct from the free kick.
48:02 Michael McIndoe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamal Campbell-Ryce. Jamal Campbell-Ryce restarts play with the free kick.
47:12 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan, Luke Steele makes a comfortable save.
46:45 Jamal Campbell-Ryce sends in a cross, fantastic save by Keiren Westwood.
45:15 Effort from outside the penalty box by Aron Gunnarsson goes wide left of the goal.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:18 The match has reached half-time.
44:10 Centre by Adam Hammill, clearance made by Stephen Wright. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill from the right by-line, clearance made by Martin Cranie.
43:52 Foul by Jonathan Macken on Michael McIndoe, free kick awarded. Martin Cranie restarts play with the free kick.
40:25 A cross is delivered by Jamal Campbell-Ryce, save made by Keiren Westwood.
38:43 Clinton Morrison gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Foster. Direct free kick taken by Luke Steele.
37:25 Effort on goal by Isaac Osbourne from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
33:12 Unfair challenge on Michael McIndoe by Anderson De Silva results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Sammy Clingan from the free kick.
32:37 Jonathan Macken is ruled offside. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
30:26 Jamal Campbell-Ryce delivers the ball, save made by Keiren Westwood.
29:12 Corner taken by Adam Hammill, Isaac Osbourne makes a clearance.
27:30 Bobby Hassell produces a cross, clearance by Martin Cranie. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill played to the near post, clearance made by Clinton Morrison.
27:01 Leon Best gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Foster. Free kick taken by Luke Steele.
25:42 Effort from outside the penalty area by Jonathan Macken goes wide left of the target.
23:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Hammill by Isaac Osbourne. Robert Kozluk takes the free kick.
21:56 Jonathan Macken gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Wright. Stephen Wright restarts play with the free kick.
20:35 Daniel Bogdanovic is ruled offside. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
18:13 Michael McIndoe has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
17:04 Corner taken by Adam Hammill, Ben Turner manages to make a clearance.
15:35 Leon Best concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Moore. Free kick taken by Luke Steele.
14:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen Wright by Daniel Bogdanovic. Stephen Wright takes the free kick.
14:26 Bobby Hassell fouled by Michael McIndoe, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Steele restarts play with the free kick.
13:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Daniel Bogdanovic. Indirect free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
10:06 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Leon Best.
9:48 Centre by Robert Kozluk, Martin Cranie makes a clearance.
8:52 Isaac Osbourne concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Hammill. Adam Hammill restarts play with the free kick.
7:51 GOAL - Leon Best:Barnsley 0 - 1 Coventry Leon Best finds the net with a brilliant goal direct from the free kick from outside the box high into the middle of the goal. Barnsley 0-1 Coventry.
6:37 Stephen Foster challenges Clinton Morrison unfairly and gives away a free kick.
4:21 Sammy Clingan fouled by Daniel Bogdanovic, the ref awards a free kick. Keiren Westwood takes the direct free kick.
1:14 The assistant referee flags for offside against Daniel Bogdanovic. Keiren Westwood takes the indirect free kick.
0:26 Centre by Jamal Campbell-Ryce, save by Keiren Westwood.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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