Wigan Athletic 2 Barnsley FC 1: Game management kills Reds for umpteenth time this season
THE MONKEES’ ‘I’m A Believer’ was aired before kick-off - and the question was which of these Roses rivals would provide themselves with a transfusion of confidence in a big old football match at the bottom end of League One.
In the event, it was Wigan - as Barnsley’s propensity to not do their jobs from a defensive perspective in the second half resurfaced into their most important game of the campaign thus far against fellow strugglers.
Barnsley, for seemingly the umpteenth time in 2026-27, were in the contest, with Cameron McGeehan’s ninth goal of the season on 57 minutes cancelling out Fraser Murray’s 36th-minute opener.
And then they spoiled it with a rotten concession on 75 minutes, scored by Jensen Weir, to settle this six-pointer, with keeper Ciaran Slicker and left-back Ziyad Larkeche both being culpable.
It extended the Reds’ winless sequence at league level to a rough nine games. This was their fifth successive away loss in the third tier on the spin.
A nice side at times, but also a naive one, they sadly always give their opponents a chance. Somewhere along the line.
Barnsley were comfortable enough for most of the first half, but failing to cope with a mini spell of pressure as their opponents cranked up the gas proved to be their undoing - and in many respects it has been the story of their season.
Murray had delivered a warning a few minutes earlier with his sweet curler producing a full-stretch parry from the well-positioned Slicker.
A few minutes later, the Reds custodian had no chance when Murray again showed delicious technique to bend an unstoppable low shot into the far corner, for his first goal of the campaign. An important one.
How the ball arrived at his feet, with Wigan afforded an ocean of space in the middle of the pitch was poor from a Reds perspective.
Wigan fancied it on the flanks against Jubril Okedina and Larkeche, with their number 10s in Brad Burrowes and Jon Mellish becoming more of a force as the half progressed.
Larkeche was cautioned in a first half which also saw Barnsley captain Cam McGeechan pick up a costly booking which will mean he misses the home derby with Sheffield Wednesday - after amassing five league yellows this term.
The Reds made three changes from their last league game against Oxford United a fortnight ago, with Daniel Johnson handed a first league start.
Okedina started in place of the suspended Jack Shepherd in the heart of defence, while Makenzie Kirk got the nod up two following his brace in midweek.
Tobi Adeyemo was not in the match-day squad, with Patrick Kelly on international duty with Northern Ireland.
Reyes Cleary displayed the sporadic threat in the first period for Barnsley. Wigan were wary of him, but Barnsley looked toothless otherwise.
Their best moment came with a well-struck free-kick from Luca Connell, which was tipped over by Latics keeper Joe Whitworth.
Barnsley string one or two nice bits of play together in open play - particularly down the sides - but possessed little threat where it hurts against a Latics backline who did look susceptible.
The first chance on the resumption was a home one, but Mellish scuffed his effort when well-placed.
Stendel moved Johnson further forward in the second period, with McGeehan dropping in.
Wigan were happy enough to let Barnsley have the ball, while picking their times to press and pounce, given the fact they did not need to chase the game.
The visitors were increasingly in need of something and thankfully it arrived.
Moments after Amani Richards and Rylan Brownlie entered the fray, the Reds were level.
Connell found Cleary and he expertly manufactured space before fizzing over a superb low cross which was bored by McGeehan. It was classic wing-play from Cleary.
At the other end, Slicker had to be alert to race out and deny Christian Saydee.
The importance of a winner did not need to be spelt out to both sides. Barnsley showed promise, but needed to be mindful of their game management going the other way.
They weren’t, unfortunately.
Morgan Fox was afforded too much space on the left and his cross was attacked at the back post by Weir, who got above Larkeche far too easily, with matters compounded by Slicker’s unconvincing attempt to keep out the header.
Burrowes went close to a killer third as Wigan smelt blood. Two was enough.
Wigan Athletic: Whitworth; Burns, Carragher, Fox; Barrett (Trevitt 68), Weir, Power, Mellish; Burrowes (Miller 87), Murray; Saydee (Hogan 67). Substitutes unused: J Walsh, Chilokoa-Mullen, A Harris, Higgins.
Barnsley: Slicker; Okedina, Gale, Kay, Larkeche (Reid ); Connell, Johnson (Richards 56); Yoganathan, McGeehan (Noslin 82), Cleary; Kirk (Brownlie 56). Substitutes unused: Ravenhill, Smith, Alker.
Referee: S Parkinson (Berks)
Attendance: 8,484 (711 Barnsley fans)