Barnsley 0 Wigan 0: Reds are keeping it tight as progress underlined

Therefore, you would have expected everyone in the know at Oakwell to be satisfied with a point.

However, it proved the sixth successive home game without a victory and a measure of the progress last season’s Wembley double-winners have made can be gauged by their disappointment.

Three points would not only have crowned their dominance but would have added to the flashlight tribute around the ground in the 80th minute to owner Patrick Cryne as he fights against cancer.

Sections of Wigan’s near 1,000 following reciprocated for they know as much as anyone the importance of having a club benefactor, in the shape of Dave Whelan.

Although they arrested their slide from Premier League glory days last season, Wigan find themselves next to bottom and only recently appointed Manchester United’s Under-21 chief Warren Joyce as manager.

He had begun with a 3-0 home defeat so it was little surprise that Joyce adopted a cautious approach at Oakwell, playing Yanic Wildschut, recognised as a midfield man, alone up front and not calling on the attacking threats of Will Grigg and Adam Le Fondre even after losing his main strike threat in Nick Powell to injury.

Joyce was happy to glean a point even though it came at a cost with Liverpool loanee goalkeeper Adam Bogdan carried away after damaging a knee and losing central defender Craig Morgan and midfield shield Shaun MacDonald for the next game at Huddersfield due to yellow cards, which have triggered suspensions.

Barnsley are not concerned with Wigan’s problems, of course, especially as many pundits expected them to be embroiled in a battle for survival this season, having had less time to prepare for the Championship due to going up via the play-offs.

Instead, they are six points clear of the drop zone and five shy of the play-off spots, leaving manager Paul Heckingbottom quietly satisfied with his lot.

A shortage of home cheer may be a concern as they prepare for Friday’s televised home encounter against Nottingham Forest but three clean sheets from their last four games is reason to celebrate.

Adam Jackson, who kept his place in central defence as Marc Roberts returned from hamstring problems at Angus MacDonald’s expense, agreed.

The 22-year-old Middlesbrough product spent much of last season on loan at Hartlepool, but has stepped up in style.

“I think it is a mark of how far we have to come to say we are disappointed to have drawn against Wigan,” he said.

“If you look at the game it’s one where we dominated from the start. We should have got a couple of goals and won quite comfortably, but it was not to be even though we deserved the three points.

“If we had scored early on it would have been a completely different game, but we made chances all the way through.

“We have had a good start in the Championship to say we have so many inexperienced players at this level.

“We have worked well together and it has been a big step for me compared to last season in League Two, but I am really enjoying it. The lads around me have really helped me through. The biggest difference is the pace of the game and coming up against more clever players in the attacking third, but we have adapted well as a unit and work really hard on it in training so I am glad it is showing through with clean sheets.

“If we play like we did here against Nottingham Forest on Friday I believe we will get one or two goals because we played well without getting the rub of the green.”

Competition for places is a factor behind Barnsley’s form and Jackson continued: “I am delighted the gaffer stuck with me and hopefully I can keep it going.

“Since the start of the season all three of us have done quite well no matter which pairing is selected and it is good to give the gaffer a bit of a headache.”

Josh Scowen also added to the conundrum facing Heckingbottom ahead of Friday, renewing his central midfield partnership with captain Conor Hourihane as loanee Sam Morsy was unable to face parent club Wigan.

There was also a late glimpse of Celtic loan winger Saidy Janko, who has finally overcome thigh trouble to keep, along with Adam Hammill, the two flank players, Ryan Kent and Marley Watkins, on their toes.

Up front, Sam Winnall continued to look a menace – a gash to his face for a second successive home match testifying – and England Under-20 striker Adam Armstrong, back from international duty in South Korea, buzzed around, but chances were at a premium, Wildschut fluffing Wigan’s opportunity to grab a late win after being played through.

The closest Barnsley came was in the 45th minute when Winnall headed into the net Hourihane’s shot, which was curling wide, only to be flagged offside.

Barnsley: Davies, Bree, Roberts, Jackson, Yiadom; Watkins, Hourihane, Scowen, Kent (Hammill 75); Winnall (Bradshaw 87), Armstrong (Janko 90). Unused substitutes: Townsend, MacDonald, Kay, Williams.

Wigan Athletic: Bogdan (Jaaskelainen 59), Burke, Morgan, Buxton, Warnock; MacDonald; Power, Powell (Garbutt 30), Perkins, Jacobs; Wildschut (Davies 82). Unused substitutes: , Byrne, Flores, Grigg, Le Fondre.

Referee: J Simpson (Lancs).