Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   BARNSLEY

26^th August 2023

RED CARD CONTROVERSY HALTS LATICS.

Barnsley came to Wigan after a somewhat stop-start beginning to their latest campaign. The opening weekend saw them romp to a stunning 7-0 win against Port Vale, but since then they had only managed to gain one further point. Their main attacking threat was ex-Wigan man Devante Cole and the big forward was, as Latics well knew, not short on pace or power.  Barnsley had entered the season with high expectations after making it to the play-off finals in the previous season before falling at that final hurdle.  Wigan began with confidence and for the first twenty minutes they pushed hard and Barnsley sat deep and soaked up the pressure. It was already clear that their game plan was to try and hit back on the transition with quick and purposeful counter attacking play.  The first chance of the game fell to Humphrys who fired a low shot in from the right side of the box that the keeper had to turn round the post for a corner.  The Yorkshire side showed their threat on the break when Max Watters was slipped through but his shot, under pressure from Hughes, was wide of the target. On 21 minutes Barnsley again broke free of the midfield stranglehold that Wigan were exerting on the game and Cole and Hughes clashed as they challenged for a through ball. On replays it was clear that Hughes played the ball but in doing so he went to ground and the referee, who was not well placed to see the incident clearly, adjudged that Hughes had brought down the Barnsley man, Hughes was the last defender so a game changing ‘red card’ resulted.  Wigan without their defensive rock suddenly looked completely disorganised and the Tykes took full advantage as a cross was whipped into the Wigan six-yard box and Cole nipped in-front of Clare to grab the opening score of the game. Maloney now made his defensive change with Morrison coming on for McManaman to add some stability in the rear-guard. 

Barnsley were now on top and dominating possession, Cotter fired wide from range, before a Phillips effort was denied by the sprawling Tickle. On 42 minutes Tickle made an excellent double save, first clawing out a deep cross, before springing back to his feet to block the follow up shot.  From the next attack it was Tickle who again came to the rescue, this time he plunged low to stop a Phillips drive before the defence smuggled the ball clear.

Wigan only threatened briefly as Humphrys forced a corner and from the resulting set piece Morrison and Watts combined to head the opportunity just wide.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Barnsley.

Latics clearly had a half-time pep talk as they began the second period pushing hard for an equaliser. Humphrys broke into the box on the left and appeared to be fouled as he lined up to shoot, but the referee was quick to wave away the penalty claims. The attack continued and a cross from the left was palmed out by Roberts into the path of Lang but his shot was blocked. Barnsley withstood the brief Latics flurry and gradually were able to take back control with their extra man giving them the edge. Jones was introduced into the fray for his first minutes after a recent injury, but it was Ticle who was the busier of the keepers. On 68 minutes Barnsley should of netted again when Tickle gifted them an opportunity. Yhe Wigan stopper left his area in an attempt to head clear a through ball, but he completely misjudged the bounce and McAtee was left with a open goal. However, he failed to steady himself and rolled the shot wide of the open goal.

McAtee went even closer two minutes later but his shot struck an upright and bounced to safety.

Lang then had a chance for the Latics but his header was pushed over the bar at full stretch by Roberts in the Barnsley goal.

Latics continued to chase the game and Humphrys fired in an effort that flew just over the crossbar. Latics pushing forward left more and more gaps at the back and Barnsley broke quickly to fire in a second, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

The reprieve was only temporary as McAtee finally found the, in added time, from another break, his shot giving Tickle no chance as it flew in off the inside of a post.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic   0-2   Barnsley.

Attendance; 10,683

Scorers; Cole (25), McAtee (90+2);

Team; WIGAN---(4-2-3-1) Tickle; Clare, Watts, Hughes, Pearce; M Smith, Adeeko; Humphrys, Lang, McManaman; Wyke; Subs; Morrison, Jones, Magennis;

BARNSLEY---(3-4-1-2) Roberts; Williams, Lopata, Shepherd; Cotter, Kane, Russell, Cadden; Phillips; Cole, Watters; Subs; McAtee, O’Keefe, Marsh, Styles;

Referee; S Stockbridge (Sunderland).

The young Wigan side had been brought back down to earth. The manner of the defeat may not have been without controversy but in a long season the top sides learn to react and adapt in games. Maloney, who had tried not to over react to the highs of recent games, was trying hard not to over react to the set back.