Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BARNSLEY

 1^st January 2026

NEW YEAR BLUES AS LATICS RUN OUT OF STEAM AFTER PROMISING START.

Wigan Athletic brought in the New Year with a 1-1 draw against Barnsley at the Brick Community Stadium. Latics were hoping to start 2026 in style with a victory in front of their home supporters, but a 68th minute strike from Adam Phillips cancelled out Dara Costelloe's opener and denied the Latics back-to-back League wins.                                                                                       

Manager Ryan Lowe once again rotated personnel to try and maintain freshness following the heavy fixture programme. The two changes from Monday's triumph at the Pirelli Stadium saw Jensen Weir return from suspension in place of Tobias Brenan, while Fraser Murray came back in for Joe Hungbo, who had played the full 90 minutes in Derbyshire. Barnsley arrived at the fixture on the back of three consecutive defeats over Christmas and Head Coach, Conor Hourihane, made four changes to his starting side - Maël de Gevigney replaced Marc Roberts; Adam Phillips returned to the starting XI instead of Vimal Yoganathan, Fábio Jaló came in for Jonathan Bland and the experienced David McGoldrick stepped in for Cleary.                                                                         

Latics started with an air of real confidence and straight from kick off, they went on the attack, with Murray almost finding the run of Bettoni at the far post. Wigan then broke the deadlock with just six minutes on the clock. Murray found the influential Callum Wright on the overlap, who cut onto his left foot and whipped a lovely cross in the direction of COSTELLOE, who, on the half turn, fired a sweet volley home via the underside of the crossbar.                                                                                                                         

The goal led to a period of control from Latics, but they had to remain wary of the threat that Barnsley posed on the break. Tyrese Francois had a key role in the middle of the park, often being the man to break up play, thwart opportunities, and start attacks.                                                                                                                                                       

Out of nothing, Barnsley almost restored parity on the half-hour mark. McGoldrick timed his run to beat the offside trip and meet a perfectly weighted through ball, but thankfully for Latics, Sam Tickle was off his line quickly to spread himself and make a superb save.                

Wigan almost made it two ten minutes before the interval, and only a brilliant Murphy Cooper double save denied the home team. After winning possession back in the final third, Cooper blocked Murray's initial strike before reacting quickly to deny Costelloe his second on the follow-up. There was still time for one more chance in the first period, and it fell in the way of Harrison Bettoni. After Raphael Borges Rodrigues' cross was kept alive by Murray's header, Bettoni took a touch to control before hitting a shot on the turn, but his strike deflected wide.                                        

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Barnsley.   

Barnsley made a double change at the break, with Cleary and Bland replacing Patrick Kelly and Jalo and it turned out to be a wise change from the visitors' perspective, as they piled on the pressure at the start of the second half.                                                                                  

Morgan Fox had to be alert to head clear a dangerous cross with McGoldrick following behind, while Phillips saw his strike smothered well by Tickle on the hour mark. Latics who had been so positive in the first period were now chasing shadows and seemed sluggish in the race for the second phase possession. It was no surprise when PHILLIPS equalised for the Tykes in the 68th minute, rifling his strike into the roof of the net after a well-worked counterattack.                                                                                                                                                          

The Yorkshire side now looked the more likely winners as they dominated possession, but the introduction of Christian Saydee nearly saw Latics back in front with eight minutes left. After failing to connect fully with his first strike, Saydee caught the second swipe sweetly and forced Cooper into a wonderful save at full stretch.                                                                                  

Barnsley were reduced to ten-men with five minutes to go, as Luca Connell was given his marching orders after an off-the-ball incident with Will Aimson. Latics looked to make the most of their numerical advantage, but Barnsley held on to take a point back to Yorkshire.             

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley.                                                                                                                                                  

Scorers; Costelloe (6); Phillips (68).                                                                                           

Attendance; 9,079

Wigan Athletic (3-4-2-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Carragher, Fox; Murray, Weir, Francois, Raphael; Wright, Costelloe, Bettoni; Subs--- Savin (G), Brenan, Asamoah (for Costelloe), Hungbo (for Raphael), Saydee (for Bettoni), Sessegnon, McManaman.

Barnsley (4-2-3-1) ---- Cooper; Watson, de Gevigney, Shepherd, Earl; Phillips, Connell; Jaló, Kelly, McGoldrick; Keillor-Dunn; Subs--- Cleary (for Jalo), Bland (for Kelly), Yoganathan (for McGoldrick), Flavell (G), Farrell, Farrugia, Vickers.

Referee; Mr. Benjamin Speedie (Merseyside).