The Reds proved too good for their League Two visitors on a warm evening at Oakwell.
First half goals from Stevie Mallan and Stefan Payne and a second half strike from Tom Bradshaw were enough to see Paul Heckingbottom's men to a comfortable victory as the Reds got another valuable 90 minutes under the belt.
The game began with the Reds on the front foot as Alex Mowatt, George Moncur and Mallan tried their luck from range, with Coventry 'keeper Lee Burge making good but comfortable saves to keep the score goalless.
Sky Blues winger, Jodie Jones was a constant thorn in the Barnsley side in the initial stages with his pace and trickery but the Reds soon took hold of the game in midfield with Moncur in particular impressing.
With just over 20 minutes played a big chance for the Reds as Payne shot from the edge of the box rather than squaring for the onrushing Mallan in acres of space. This was to become a common theme in the first half.
However, on 24 minutes Mallan did receive the pass on the angle of the box, right-hand side and he powered home a right-footed strike that flew into the top corner at the 'keeper's near post.
The visitors twice came close to immediately replying but were denied by the brilliance of Nick Townsend in goal who on both occasions produced wonderful, one-handed saves to repel long-range efforts destined for the Reds net.
But Hecky's men had further chances to add to their lead with Moncur and Jacob Brown both seeing shots blocked before Jason McCarthy saw a shot slide agonisingly wide of the far post.
However, it was soon 2-0 Barnsley..
Another surging run from McCarthy from right back and another shot saw the ball spill kindly off Burge and there was Payne to nod home from a yard out, to double the Reds lead at the interval.
HALF TIME: Reds 2-0 Coventry
There were four changes at the break, with a first chance to see latest summer recruit, Ike Ugbo who joined Tom Bradshaw, Sessi D'Almeida and Andy Yiadom as half time substitutes.
The visitors found a route back into the game 10 minutes after the restart when Stuart Beavon forced his way through defence after hesitant defending and poked home beyond the helpless Townsend for 2-1.
Following that blow Heckingbottom's men soon regained control and had a handful of shots on goal following some superb, flowing football.
Bradshaw, Isgrove, Mallan and Moncur all had their opportunities to add to the goals before Yiadom bamboozled his defender and then fired a wicked shot into the side-netting. It was all Barnsley at this point.
And with 67 minutes on the clock the Reds added a third goal..
Some more free-flowing football saw McCarthy fire across a low ball at pace which Isgrove forced back across goal, leaving Bradshaw the task of tapping home despite the best efforts of Burge on the line.
Adam Hammill and Jared Bird then entered the field, replacing Moncur and Isgrove, with 20 minutes to play.
The game remained competitive but chances were scarce as the game wore on, with Townsend making a great low save being the main highlight before full time.
FULL TIME: Reds 3-1 Coventry
Townsend (GK); McCarthy, Pinnock, Jackson, Fryers (Yiadom); Mallan, Moncur (Bird), Mowatt (Sessi), Isgrove (Hammill); Brown (Ugbo), Payne (Bradshaw).
