Barnsley’s six-game unbeaten league run at Oakwell game to an end with a 1-0 defeat against lowly Wigan Athletic.

The visitors netted just before half-time, with their only shot on target, then defended well.

In very wet conditions, the Reds were poor overall although they did improve slightly and create chances late on.

After their five-game unbeaten league run ended, Barnsley slipped down a place to sixth.

Darrell Clarke made one change from the 1-1 draw at Cambridge United a week before. Luca Connell came back from suspension in place of the injured Max Watters. Sam Cosgrove was back on the bench after injury.

Barnsley’s Adam Phillips and Wigan’s Silko Thomas had shots off target from outside the box in the first ten minutes then Davis Keillor-Dunn was almost played through by a poor backpass but goalkeeper Sam Tickle won the tackle.

Very little happened for the next half an hour but Barnsley were having a spell of pressure when they conceded against the run of play on 43 minutes. Thomas easily beat Corey O’Keeffe on the left of the box then chipped up a cross for the unmarked Thleo Aasgard to head home from close range.

Early in the second half, Aasgaard volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Barnsley were poor straight after the break and Clarke made a quadruple change. Cosgrove, Kelechi Nwakali, Donovan Pines and Fabio Jalo came on for O’Keeffe, Phillips, Jon Russell and Georgie Gent. The Reds changed to 4-2-3-1 with four centre-backs across the back four.

Barnsley came very close to a leveller midway through the second half when they had their first efforts on target during a goalmouth scramble after a corner. Earl’s header was cleared off the line then Pines looked certain to score but Will Aimson deflected his shot over from a couple of yards out.

Connell put three long-range shots off target then visiting goalkeeper Sam Tickle’s first save came on 86 minutes and saw him dive to his left to easily catch a Cosgrove header from a Nwakali cross.

In the nine added minutes, Marc Roberts headed wide from a Jalo corner then Jalo’s long-range effort was easily saved.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Killip; de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe (Cosgrove 56mins), Phillips (Jalo 56), Connell (Lofthouse 87), Russell (Nwakali 56), Gent (Pines 56); Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys.

Unused: Smith, Craig.

Yellow cards: Pines, Connell.

Wigan (4-2-3-1): Tickle; Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Sessegnon (Robinson 78mins); Adeeko, Francois (S Smith 45+1); Rankine (J Smith 71mins), Aasgaard (Weir 71), Thomas (Carragher 78); Taylor.

Unused: Watson, Asamoah.

Yellow cards: Sibbick, S Smith, Robinson.

Goals: Aasgaard 43.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:02pm
    Killip slices his first touch out for a throw and the away fans cheer gleefully
  • 3:04pm
    Decent Barnsley move from left to right ends in Humphrys winning a free-kick. It's pretty far up the pitch and the defenders are going up for it
  • 3:05pm
    4 The free-kick is played short down the right by O'Keeffe and Connell who eventually squares to Phillips who blazes over from 22 yards
  • 3:06pm
    It's really coming down out there. But there has been some decent football played so far in the rain
  • 3:07pm
    You can see the water splashing up under every kick. Can't be easy to play out there
  • 3:08pm
    Wigan's first shot. A long ball is headed on by Dale Taylor to Silko Thomas who curls well wide of the right post from just outside the box
  • 3:10pm
    De Gevigney absolutely smashes an attempted cross field pass to Gent basically across the entire halfway line but he cannot keep it in
  • 3:11pm
    Now Wigan's Dion Rankine brings down a long ball, runs in to the box with options to pass to and knocks it just next to him where he think Toby Sibbick is but there is no one there
  • 3:12pm
    Both teams yet to settle down on the ball in this heavy rain
  • 3:13pm
    Wild defensive pass by Steven Sessegnon almost puts DKD clean through but the goalkeeper Sam Tickle comes out to touch the ball off his toes. Could the Barnsley striker have been stronger in the tackle? Maybe
  • 3:14pm
    14 Wigan win a free-kick on the left
  • 3:15pm
    Free-kick easily dealt with
  • 3:16pm
    Phillips flicks a pass out of play as Barnsley try to build up from the back. There have been a lot of attempted clever touches on both sides just not coming off
  • 3:17pm
    Wigan having a spell of possession at the moment. Sibbick wins a throw near the right corner flag
  • 3:18pm
    17 Sesessgnon's long throw from the right is eventually hacked out by Gent
  • 3:19pm
    Not the greatest game so far which is probably not surprising in this weather
  • 3:19pm
    Thomas gets in on the left for Wigan but his cross is cut out by MDG. Connell nearly caught on ball in box but they counter and O'Keeffe's cross is caught by the goalkeeper
  • 3:21pm
    Earl badly misjudges a long ball but gets back to clear for a throw after Ranking almost got in on right of box
  • 3:22pm
    Barnsley are trying to pass their way up the pitch but it's very erratic, a lot of wayward balls in the wet conditions. Somehow they are still getting the ball into the Wigan half fairly often. But then they lack the clinical pass or cross to create a chance
  • 3:24pm
    Wigan trying a lot more long passes than their hosts which might not be a bad idea in the conditions. Goalkeeper Tickle almost releases Rankine on the right but he cannot bring down what was a tough pass to control
  • 3:25pm
    Barnsley win a corner on the right
  • 3:26pm
    26 Luca Connell's right wing corner is far too heavy and over everyone but the referee sees a foul in there anyway
  • 3:26pm
    Barnsley lacking quality in attack at the moment, both in general play and set pieces
  • 3:27pm
    Earl loses the ball to Rankine and it is worked to Thomas but his shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Roberts
  • 3:30pm
    Nice pass by Earl over the top to Phillips who challenges with the goalkeeper who drops it out of play. Free-kick to Wigan given to the anger of the home fans
  • 3:31pm
    The home crowd starting to get a bit frustrated as Connell misses Russell with a pass
  • 3:33pm
    Mael concedes a free-kick on the left. Decent area for Wigan
  • 3:33pm
    33 Tyrese Francois' free-kick from the left goes all the way to the back post when Sibbick keeps it in but Killip gathers
  • 3:34pm
    Barnsley absolutely determined to pass out short from their goalkeeper. It's led to some scary moments but also got them on the attack a few times
  • 3:36pm
    Nice Connell pass to o'keeffe who wins throw for Roberts to launch from right
  • 3:36pm
    Roberts' throw goes to Phillips who misses the ball on the edge of the box. It's then recycled and Phillips' cross is caught by the goalkeeper
  • 3:38pm
    Good charging run by MDG up right flank and he wins a corner. Barnsley getting a bit of momentum
  • 3:38pm
    38 Connell corner on right. Headed out as is the next cross
  • 3:39pm
    Another long throw for Roberts on right
  • 3:40pm
    Throw headed out as is Roberts' cross then both DKD and Gent have efforts blocked in the box
  • 3:40pm
    Barnsley definitely enjoying a good spell here but can they create a proper chance or have the game's first shot on target? 40 mins gone
  • 3:43pm
    GOAL!
    Thelo Aasgaard opens the scoring
  • 3:44pm
    Silko Thomas beats O'Keeffe all ends up on the left of the box with the Barnsley man ended up on the floor. The cross is lofted up to Aasgaard who is in space to head home from close range
  • 3:45pm
    First shot on target of the game, maybe slightly against the run of play
  • 3:46pm
    One added minute
  • 3:47pm
    Referee stops play for an apparent head injury which Barnsley on the attack. Home fans furious
  • 3:49pm
    Tyrese Francois comes off injured. Scott Smith on
  • 3:50pm
    Killip booms a free-kick inside his box, all big lads forward but it's over them all and out
  • 3:51pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Wigan 1
  • 4:05pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:08pm
    Aasgaard close again. Cross from left headed out by Earl and he volleys over from the edge of the box
  • 4:08pm
    Toby Sibbick powers about 30 yards into Barnsley box to byline and wins corner
  • 4:09pm
    Corner headed out by Russell
  • 4:10pm
    Rankine beats Gent easily then pulls the ball back to Taylor whose shot is blocked in the box
  • 4:10pm
    The Reds have not started this half well
  • 4:11pm
    Wigan having joy on wings. They win corner on left
  • 4:11pm
    Corner on right by Wigan, over everyone
  • 4:12pm
    DKD almost gets in in the box but the ball won't settle for him and it's cleared
  • 4:14pm
    Ten minutes into second half and Barnsley's haven't really got going
  • 4:15pm
    Pines, Jalo and Cosgrove waiting to come on
  • 4:15pm
    Decent Wigan move ends with Rankine just being beaten to ball by Killip who gathers on left of his box
  • 4:16pm
    Also Nwakali coming on
  • 4:17pm
    Off go Phillips, Gent, O'Keeffe and Russell
  • 4:21pm
    Four centre-backs across the back four. Connell and Nwakali in midfield with DKD in front of them. Jalo, Cosgrove, Humphrys the front three
  • 4:22pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Donovan Pines booked for tripping Thelo Aasgaard
  • 4:23pm
    Stoppage here with Aasgaard down injured
  • 4:24pm
    59 Scott Smith's free-kick to Rankine on left who beats MDG in box and his low cross is blocked
  • 4:24pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Toby Sibbick booked for pulling back Kelechi Nwakali
  • 4:25pm
    YELLOW CARD
    The flurry of bookings continues as Luca Connell takes out Dale Taylor near halfway
  • 4:26pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Scott Smith yet another yellow card. Scott Smith pulls back Humphrys on counter
  • 4:27pm
    Nice move from free kick between Connell and Earl,. Connell cross headed by Roberts and blocked behind by defender for corner on right
  • 4:28pm
    67 Connell corner on right. Massive scramble. Looked like Earl headed cleared off line then Pines shot blocked over by Aimson
  • 4:28pm
    Nwakali corner to Connell who screws shot over
  • 4:31pm
    Wigan bring Jonny Smith on for Rankine and Jensen Weir for Aasgaard
  • 4:32pm
    Two of Wigan's better attacking performers off. Looks like they are going to defend for a 1-0 win
  • 4:32pm
    Jalo wins free-kick on edge of box
  • 4:33pm
    Connell, Jalo, Humphrys all over this free-kick 25 yards out
  • 4:34pm
    Connell takes it but fires wide
  • 4:37pm
    Barnsley have been better since the quadruple change. They are mainly on the attack at the moment
  • 4:38pm
    Double change for Wigan. Luke Robinson and James Carragher on for Steven Sessegnon and Silko Thomas
  • 4:38pm
    Roberts long throw scrambled out
  • 4:39pm
    Wigan's Baba Adeeko down for treatment
  • 4:40pm
    So Wigan have made all five changes after bringing on those two defenders. Barnsley still have one left if they want to make it. Lofthouse and Craig on bench
  • 4:41pm
    Play re starts. Adeeko off pitch but looks likely to come back on
  • 4:42pm
    Jalo wins corner on left with a deflected cross
  • 4:42pm
    Adeeko is back on for Wigan
  • 4:42pm
    DKD corner from left headed out for corner on right
  • 4:43pm
    83 Connell corner headed out
  • 4:43pm
    Wigan have gone into full on defence mode with their changes. Sitting back and hanging on. Can Barnsley break them down?
  • 4:45pm
    Connell volleys well over. Third effort over bar from him this half
  • 4:45pm
    Lofthouse will come on now
  • 4:46pm
    Sam Tickle makes his first save of the game, diving down to his left to easily catch a Cosgrove header from a Nwakali cross
  • 4:47pm
    Lofthouse on for Connell
  • 4:48pm
    Adeeko down again for Wigan. The home crowd and players not happy. They suspect a bit of time wasting perhaps
  • 4:49pm
    Adeeko going off. Roberts about to take throw from left wing
  • 4:50pm
    89 Roberts' long throw flicked on by MDG but cleared
  • 4:50pm
    Jalo, who has been good, wins a corner on the right
  • 4:50pm
    Short corner worked to Nwakali whose long-range shot is blocked
  • 4:51pm
    Nine added minutes
  • 4:51pm
    Jalo wins another corner on left
  • 4:51pm
    90+1 Jalo corner on right. Headed by Roberts but it goes just wide of the left post
  • 4:53pm
    A good run by Lofthouse and he wins a corner on the left
  • 4:53pm
    90+3 DKD corner over everyone and out but free-kick given anyway
  • 4:55pm
    Jalo shoots from 25 yards but it lacks power and Tickle saves easily
  • 4:57pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Luke Robinson booked for pulling back Jalo
  • 4:58pm
    90+8 After a scramble in box, Roberts' long range low shot is blocked behind. DKD corner then easily caught
  • 4:59pm
    Barnsley win throw on right
  • 5:00pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Wigan 1.