Gerhard Struber and Mark Robins play chess

Oakwell on Saturday was not the place to be for careering freeloading action. But it was a hotspot for intrinsic and ‘geeky’ football between two teams entwined in a tactical embrace that would ultimately prove to be a deadlock. 

It saw two excellently drilled and organised sides in attack, defence and transition. Poking, prodding and pressuring to try and find that vital weak spot to provide that craved breakthrough. More like a game of chess than a football match.

And somewhat inevitably – like a chess match that ends with both Kings stranded on the board – that breakthrough never came.

The game had very few, if any, clear cut chances. The opening 15 minutes saw Callum Styles and Luke Thomas both misfire for Barnsley from the edge of the area, before Coventry saw their best chance of the game with Leo Ostigard crashing a header off the crossbar from Gustavo Hamer’s delightful corner.

After Ostigard’s effort, though, there was very little to report on in the way of chances in the first half.

A tactical switch for Barnsley after half time bore more fruit with Elliot Simoes and Alex Mowatt – who had an excellent game in midfield – both whistling shots just past the top corner.

The 89th minute then saw the Tykes’ best chance when a long ball flicked on – of all things – fell to Cauley Woodrow, who could only fire his close range effort straight at Marko Marosi in the Coventry goal.

It was 11 footballers on the pitch, but the main characters were stood on the touchline.

In the red corner, Gerhard Struber in blue jeans and striking white trainers. And in the blue corner, Mark Robins in tracksuit bottoms and black Adidas boots with three white stripes – the coaches’ classic.

Worlds apart in image, but not too dissimilar in footballing style. Both playing back threes, both trying to work the ball out from the back, and both having their respective sides press high up the pitch.

And ultimately, this pretty much cancelled both teams out.

Barnsley’s press was stronger and restricted Coventry’s attempts to build from the back. In response, the Sky Blues were able to lure the Tykes out and found some joy hitting balls in behind, particularly down Barnsley’s right flank.

Both sides looked dangerous when winning the ball high and breaking fast, but they were both equally good at transitioning back into defence in order to avoid any truly dangerous openings.

At half time, Struber decided to throw a little bit of madness into the method by bringing on winger Dominik Frieser for centre back Michal Helik. The switch saw the Tykes go from a 3-4-1-2 to more of a 4-2-3-1.

“We changed the formation in the second half. It was easier for us to find more control in the game and also [find]more chances to score goals,” remarked Struber post match.

Centre back Mads Andersen agreed, saying: “We made the formation change and I think it went a lot better. I still think we should take more control in the game but overall we have one point and a season ahead of us.”

It left Barnsley a little more exposed at the back, but allowed them to better stretch Coventry’s three centre backs and get in behind their wing backs more often. The addition of Simoes shortly after half time also brought some more direct dribbling threat.

This helped the hosts create more openings in the second half, with Struber pulling off a fine tactical manoeuvre to give his side the upper hand.

But the Sky Blues were generally up to the task defensively, showing why they had the best defence in League One last season. Despite falling under more pressure, they restricted Barnsley from creating any really presentable opportunities.

“You’ve got to take the point and be reasonably happy with it. The work rate was there, we were a little bit on the back foot, it was a little bit scrappy in the second half,” said Robins after the match.

“Marko has made a really good save at the end. Cauley Woodrow got himself into a good position bounced it into the floor and Marko has stood up and saved it, other than that, there weren’t too many chances that they had.”

The thing is with chess matches is that the Bishops don’t pick up the ball from 30 yards out, go round three players and slide in a killer through ball for the Queen.

And the Knights don’t suddenly misjudge which square to jump to for no apparent reason and fall over, leaving you exposed and vulnerable.

Today, the players were more like chess pieces. They were solid, probing and diligently carrying out their duties. But they lacked that bit of creativity and spontaneity, be it for better or worse, to really open up the game.

Coventry claim a decent point on the road and keep their first Championship clean sheet of the season, while Barnsley claim their first point but still await their first league goal.

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