Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BARNSLEY

29^th March 2025

BATTLING TICS COME FROM BEHIND TO GRAB A POINT

The new Latics Head Coach opted to make three attacking changes from the last league outing at Charlton Athletic, with Jonny Smith, Ronan Darcy, and Chris Sze returning to the starting line-up in place of Jon Mellish, Jensen Weir, and Luke Chambers. 

Latics, lined up with three at the back and two advanced, attack-minded wing backs in Owen Dale and Jonny Smith. Wigan started in lively fashion with real attacking intent.

The first big chance of the game came Latics way after great play from Dale Taylor who crossed for Sze and his instinctive near post effort looked destined for the goal, but Jonathan Bland somehow deflected the ball inches wide.

Against the run of play and with their first attempt at goal, KEILLOR-DUNN curled in a thirty- yard free-kick which Sam Tickle got two hands to, but he could not keep the ball out of the home net.

Latics had a chance to respond just four minutes later as Ronan Darcy broke forward and fed Taylor down the left. The striker skipped past his man and was denied by the legs of the goalkeeper. The Forest Loanee failed to see Sze, who was better placed to his right, and the chance was spurned.

Despite the positive first half performance, Barnsley had the ball in the back of the net for a second time midway through the first half, courtesy of a close-range finish from McCarthy   following a well delivered free-kick, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.

Kieren Flavell had to be alert to deny Jonny Smith an equaliser, before he then clutched onto Scott Smith’s long-range strike. Latics continued to push for what would have been a deserved leveller based on the first half chances, but without success.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Barnsley.

Early in the second period Dale Taylor found space again, but opted to shoot from distance with options either side. Barnsley looked dangerous on the counter attack and Wigans dominance that had characterised the first half was no longer as evident.

Lowe's Latics did get their deserved equaliser 12 minutes from time after a dreadful mix-up in the Barnsley defence. A long ball over the top saw the pace of substitute ASAMOAH JUNIOR causing panic in the visitor’s defence and the youngster was able to nip between the final defender, Mael De Gevigney and the advancing keeper to pinch the ball before coasting in and rolling home his first Latics goal.

At the other end, the Tykes looked to hit straight back, but Jonathan Russell was denied by the legs of Tickle.

Latics nearly grabbed a winner when another Latics substitute, Joe Hungbo with a snap shot was denied by a wonderful reactionary save from Flavell and the effort was turned behind for a corner that came to nothing.

Ex-Latics favourite Stephen Humphrys came on for a late cameo and his direct style stretched the Wigan defences. Jason Kerr was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card after he hauled the forward down but the referee chose to issue a yellow card as he judged that Carragher may have got round on the cover.

The game will be remembered for the warm tributes paid to popular Latics fan Darren Orme who passed away in the week before the game. The minutes applause was well respected by both sets of fans as they set aside rivalries to mark the occasion.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley.

Scorers; Keillor-Dunn (8); Asamoah Junior (78);

Attendance; 10,942

Teams; WIGAN— (5-2-1-2) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr, Dale, J. Smith; Norburn, S. Smith; Darcy; Sze, Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Mellish, Hungbo (for Darcy), Asamoah (for Dale), McManaman (for Sze), McHugh (for J. Smith), L. Robinson;

BARNSLEY--- (3-4-3) Flavell; de Gevigney, Roberts, McCarthy; Bland, Russell, Nwakali, O'Keeffe; Keillor-Dunn, Fábio Jaló, Watters; Subs: --- Hayton, Barratt (for Bland), Connell (for Jalo), Humphrys (for Watters), Lewis, Phillips, Pines;

Referee; Mr. Sebastian Stockbridge. (Sunderland)