Jonny Smith produced a superb strike for the equaliser. Photograph by Bernard Platt.

• Wigan Athletic were held 1-1 by Barnsley at Oakwell in a game they really should have won.
• Latics wasted several good chances in the first half and the Tykes went ahead just before half time when Devante Cole converted from Adam Phillips cross after Latics failed to clear.
• It was the visitors who dominated the second half as Barnsley faded. Josh Magennis had a glorious opportunity to equalise on 51 minutes but he volleyed wide from 10 yards out in the centre of the goal.
• Jonny Smith thought he had equalised when his in-swinging corner was clawed into his own net by goalkeeper Liam Roberts but referee Seb Stockbridge inexplicably ruled out the goal for an infringement.
• Smith was not to be outdone however, and he rifled home a superb equaliser from 20 yards on 87 minutes.
• Latics move up one place in the table to 17th and Barnsley move up to sixth in League One.

Shaun Maloney made four changes from the the victory against Carlisle United with Baba Adeeko, Jordan Jones, Callum Lang and Martial Godo returning to the starting line-up in place of Scott Smith, Jonny Smith, Thelo Aasgaard and Stephen Humphrys. Luke Robinson returned from his loan at St Johnstone and took a place on the bench.

Both teams started slowly but on five minutes Godo provided an excellent cross for Magennis, but the Northern Ireland international didn’t make a good headed connection and the chance went begging.

Jones and Godo then linked up well in attack, but a Barnsley defender managed to intercept the danger before a strike on goal.

At the other end, Devante Cole had an opportunity when he met John McAtee’s cross but Sam Tickle did well to tip over his goalbound header.

Tickle saved well again on 16 minutes when he got down at his near post to again deny Cole.

The best chance of the half fell to Jones on 17 minutes as Latics counter attacked with pace.  Godo fed Jones in the centre of the box, but the winger blazed high over the crossbar.

Barnsley were enjoying the greater possession but Maloney’s men continued to be dangerous on the counter attack. Jones cross nearly found Magennis in the centre of the box on 22 minutes.

Another Jones cross on the half hour mark found Liam Shaw at the back post but the midfielder couldn’t make a good contact.

Phillips then had a scuffed goalward effort deflected by McAtee in the box but fortunately for Latics it went into the arms of Tickle on 40 minutes.

Another dangerous Jones cross was well held by the Barnsley keeper on 42 minutes.

In first-half stoppage time the hosts went ahead after Stephen Sessegnon failed to clear and the ball fell to Phillips who set up Cole to score from close range.

1-0 to Barnsley at half time.

Magennis had a glorious opportunity to equalise for Latics on 51 minutes but he volleyed wide from 10 yards out in the centre of the goal.

At the other end, Barnsley had a rare opportunity when McAtee volleyed onto the roof of the net from a tight angle on 57 minutes.

The visitors were now dominating the second half with plenty of possession and patient build up play.

Maloney replaced Lang and Magennis for Thelo Aasgaard and Charlie Wyke on 58 minutes.

Jones continued to cause problems and from another of his dangerous crosses Shaw headed across goal but it didn’t have the power to find the corner of the Barnsley net. 

Luke Robinson and Callum McManaman replaced Sesssegnon and Liam Morrison on 75 minutes.

Latics were now loaded with attacking players as they went for the equaliser.  Smith’s superb in-swinging was clawed into his own net by keeper Roberts for what looked like a perfectly good goal, but referee Stockbridge inexplicably disallowed it on 84 minutes. 

But Smith was not to be denied and from a short free-kick he took the ball from 20 yards out and struck a superb dipping strike into the top corner of the net for the equaliser on 87 minutes.

On the 90 minute mark Jones rifled a powerful strike just over the Barnsley crossbar from 25 yards out.

Then on 93 minutes yet another dangerous Jones cross found McManaman at the back post, but the winger’s close range strike could only find the side netting.

Latics were just unable to get the all important winner, in a game they should really have taken the three points.

Overview

Against promotion-chasing Barnsley, Latics really should have come away from Oakwell with the three points. 

They created several clear-cut chances with Magennis and Jones being wasteful in front of goal. Referee Stockbridge also disallowed what looked like a perfectly good goal from Jonny Smith.

Latics had dominated the second half with plenty of possession and patient build up play. If only they could have moved the ball a little quicker in the final third, they would have surely created even more chances.

It is no coincidence that Latics’ improvement has come because players have returned from injury. It is very unfortunate that other players such as Scott Smith, Stephen Humphrys and the on-loan Josh Stones have now been struck down by an injury.

Maloney’s players will now be looking forward to the challenge of facing Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round on Monday. It should be quite an atmosphere at the DW Stadium. Could Latics pull off another famous FA Cup shock?

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards, Maloney was full of praise for his players and expressed they could have left Oakwell with all three points on another day. 

“I really liked how we played,” he said.

“We changed our style today because of how good Barnsley are when they press high. 

“It’s one of those games where you go in at half-time and there wasn’t anything wrong with the game.

“We shouldn’t have gone in behind, but then it was the same again in the second half. We created a lot of opportunities today and the least we deserved today was a draw.

“I am really happy with the performance – and the result. With the amount of chances we had, I thought we were brilliant and deserved to win the game.

“We’ve got good players and a good squad. I know it’s a little bit inconsistent at times, but we’ve got a good group.

“You can see the connection between the fans and the players – and we are fighting every game. Today, I wish we won because our performance- and the chances we created – deserved the win.”

Maloney also gave a special mention to Smith, who he believes was fully deserving of that moment in front of the travelling Tics. 

“Jonny deserved it. He had to be patient for a couple of months and had a difficult injury at the start of the season, but he has that talent.”

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