Nick Powell produced a virtuoso display

Supersub Nick Powell scored an 11 minute hat-trick to stun Barnsley and keep Latics’ season alive.

Barnsley had gone into a two goal lead through Adam Armstrong and Ryan Kent, but when Powell entered the fray on 66 minutes he proved to be a game changer first scoring direct from a free-kick on 71 minutes.

He added a second goal a minute later when keeper Davies was unable to hold Ryan Colclough’s drive.

Powell was at the centre of all Latics’ best moves and Barnsley could not contain the enigmatic frontman.

He sealed a miraculous turnaround by blasting home a penalty after he had been fouled by Angus MacDonald.

Wigan move above Blackburn Rovers into 22nd place but are still four points behind Bristol City who face QPR today.

Graham Barrow made three changes to the starting line-up with Sam Morsy, Jake Buxton and Callum Connolly returning in place of Alex Gilbey, Craig Morgan and Ryan Colclough.

Latics started brightly with Max Power heading over after 10 minutes, Gabriel Obertan fired wide after 20 minutes and was unable to convert another opportunity on 25 minutes.

Latics best chance fell to former Barnsley loanee Sam Morsy on 35 minutes. The Eqyptian midfielder found space in the area and hit a low drive which went through a sea of legs but keeper Davies did well to get his hand to the ball and parry it away.

Barnsley always looked dangerous on the break and they went ahead against the run of play just before the interval.

Marley Watkins crossed and Ryan Kent’s powerful effort struck the post but came straight back to Adam Armstrong who converted at the far post from six yards.

Ryan Colclough replaced Morsy at half time as Latics looked to quickly get back on level terms.

Latics had a couple of early free-kicks in dangerous positions. Power first blasted a 20 yard free-kick just wide of the post on 52 minutes and Jacobs was unable to beat the wall a couple of minutes later.

But on 59 minutes it looked as though Barnsley might have sealed the three points with a clinical breakaway.

Bradshaw broke through the centre and then fed the ball out to Kent on the right-hand side, who cut inside and fired past the despairing Jakob Haugaard.

Nick Powell replaced Gabriel Obertan as Barrow attempted to get a foothold in the game and what an amazing impact he made.

Powell almost immediately won a free-kick on the angle of the area and he stepped up to smash an unstoppable shot past Davies and into the Barnsley net.

Two minutes later keeper Davies couldn’t hold Colclough’s low drive and Powell pounced to make the scores level.

Powell was in unstoppable form and Barnsley resorted to desperate measures to try and contain him.

Fouls were plentiful around the Barnsley box and the chance of a free-kick or penalty always looked likely.

Max Power crashed a powerful shot against the crossbar with ten minutes remaining as Latics pressed for the winner.

The opportunity soon came as Jamie Hanson launched a throw in into the box and MacDonald foolishly fouled Powell in the area.

A clear penalty and it was, of course, Powell who stepped up to take it.

Powell showed no signs of nerves and smashed the ball down the centre of the goal as Davies dived to his left.

What an amazing turnaround and what a virtuoso display by Nick Powell.

Latics had to endure a late scare when Matty James bundled the ball home for Barnsley but referee Simon Hooper disallowed the goal for a foul on Haugaard

There were ecstatic scenes at the end as Latics’ players and fans celebrated an amazing comeback.

They now have a difficult fixture at Championship leaders Brighton on Easter Monday but they go into the game with renewed hope that they can pull off a great escape.