[BFC SITE] Reds defeated by Wigan at Oakwell

Barnsley FC fell to defeat against Wigan Athletic at Oakwell, suffering a 1-0 loss in Sky Bet League One, following a first half goal from Thelo Aasgaard.

Darrell Clarke’s men had an early chance from a 3rd minute free kick, with Adam Phillips receiving the ball from skipper Luca Connell on the edge of the area, only for the midfielder to aim his effort over the bar.

Three minutes later, the visitors had their own opportunity to take the lead, when Silko Thomas rifled a close-range shot wide of the target.

The Reds came close once more in the 12th minute, when Davis Keillor-Dunn spotted Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle off his line. The forward promptly squared from the right flank into the area for Stephen Humphrys, however the opposition shotstopper managed to recover his position to thwart the Barnsley number 44.

Phillips had another opportunity for an opener in the 28th minute, when he received a Josh Earl ball just outside the eighteen-yard box. The midfielder drove into the area, before being denied by Wigan ‘keeper, Tickle, before he could produce a shot. The number 8 also came close to breaking the deadlock seven minutes later, when his 25-yard effort was collected by Tickle.

Wigan took the lead after 41 minutes, with the midfielder Aasgaard heading an effort past Reds’ ‘keeper Ben Killip from the centre of the area.

Darrell Clarke’s men were unable to produce a response to this setback in the remainder of the first 45, and as such, went into half time chasing a one goal deficit.

HALF TIME: Barnsley FC 0-1 Wigan Athletic

After a relatively quiet start to the half, Reds’ Head Coach, Darrell Clarke made a quadruple substitution in the 58th minute, in an effort to produce a breakthrough. Two minutes later, the forward Humphrys managed to get through in the area, only to fall under challenge from his opposition marker before he could capitalise with a shot.

Six minutes later, the Reds came close to a leveller, with Connell working well down the left to hit a cross into the area, only for Marc Roberts’ header to be prevented by an interception from a Wigan defender. Donovan Pines received the ball in the area from the resultant corner, only for the substitute’s effort to be cleared off the line.

After 74 minutes, Connell had a chance to equalise with a free kick from 20 yards out, only for the Reds skipper’s effort to be directed wide of the mark. Earl also attempted to level for the Reds four minutes later, but the defender’s looping shot from distance was collected by Tickle.

The Reds continued to search for an equaliser in the closing stages of the game, with Roberts again coming close in the 91st minute with a header inside the area, which was narrowly aimed wide of the post, following a Fabio Jalo corner. The defender also produced a shot from distance in the eighth minute of stoppage time, which was cleared out of the area by his opposition marker.

However, Barnsley were unable to find that elusive equaliser, and the Reds’ five-game unbeaten run in League One came to an end.

FULL TIME: Barnsley FC 0-1 Wigan Athletic

Barnsley XI: Killip (GK), Russell (Nwakali, 58), Roberts, de Gevigney, O’Keeffe (Cosgrove, 58), Phillips (Jalo, 58), Gent (Pines, 58), Earl, Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys, Connell (C) (Lofthouse, 87).

Subs not used: Smith, Craig.

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