Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BARNSLEY

13^th August 2024 

TYKES GO THROUGH AFTER SHOOT-OUT

Wigans record in the Carabou Cup is nothing to write home about and since their run in 2005-06 which saw them reach the final they have struggled to make it past the early rounds. In eight of the last ten seasons they had fallen at the first hurdle and on a rain sodden night in front of a depressingly low crowd the record was to get even worse.

Wigan began brightly enough with a strong starting XI moving the ball well and looking threatening on the flanks. The visitors tended to be more direct and when they earned a free-kick a curling effort from 25 yards brought the best out of Sam Tickle in the Latics goal. Captain for the night Aimson was busy at both ends of the field, first he bravely blocked a shot by Yoganathan, then at the other end he headed just over the bar following a Latics corner.

Joe Hugill was working hard in attack and his efforts were nearly rewarded when he dispossessed the Barnsley centre half on the halfway line but the angle was too tight and his goal-bound shot was turned over the bar by the USA international goalkeeper Slonina.

The breakthrough came after 35 minutes when Ramsay and Adeeko linked up well before Ramsay was hauled down in the box. AASGAARD grabbed the ball and made no mistake from the penalty spot as he feinted and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Straight from the restart Barnsley went close as ex-Tic Sam Cosgrove forced Tickle into a low diving save. Then at the other end Sze nearly broke through the Tyke defences only for a last-minute challenge to deny him a goalscoring opportunity.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Barnsley.

Wigan began the second half with some of their most fluent play as they cut right through the visitors defence before Rankine picked out Aasgaard but the young Norwegian fired straight at the keeper and the chance was spurned.  The miss, just as in the previous game, was to prove costly as on 48 minutes a deep corner was misjudged by Tickle which allowed PINES at the far post, to head into an unguarded net.

Latics squandered another great chance a few minutes later when Rankine did really well on the right and pulled back a lovely cross but Hugill, who was arriving perfectly at the near post, failed to get a proper connection and his shot screwed well wide of the target. Wigan continued to threaten and a Chambers cross was headed over by Carragher at the far post.

The visitors grabbed their chance to gain dominance in the play and Cotter missed a good chance from ten yards. Then Lofthouse found space and he too failed to convert the opportunity.

It was the visitors who were finishing the stronger and after Chambers tested Slonina with a low drive they were presented with a golden chance as a McHugh header landed straight to Max waters but he failed to connect properly and the Wigan man was able to hack the ball to safety.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley.

Scorers; Aasgaard (35,pen); Pines (48);

Attendance; 1,990

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Ramsay, Aimson, Carragher, Chambers; M. Smith, Adeeko; Aasgaard, Sze, Rankine; Hugill; Subs; Jones (for Sze), McHugh (for Ramsay), Stones (for Hugill), Thomas (for Rankine), S. Smith (for M. Smith);

BARNSLEY— (5-3-2) Slonina; Cotter, de Gevigney, Pines, Earl, Gent; Yoganathan, Russell, Craig; Marsh, Cosgrove; Subs; Lopata (for Pines), Lofthouse (for Gent), Phillips (for Yoganathan), Connell (for Craig), Watters (for Cosgrove);

Referee; Mr. W. Finnie (Bedfordshire).

The game went to penalties and the visitors came out on top to progress to the next round.