Barnsley will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in Lancashire when they travel to Wigan on Thursday night.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side secured their Championship status for next season with a 2-0 victory against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.
It means the Reds have now lost just once in their last five outings which leaves them in 13th place with a record equalling ninth away win of the campaign!
Wigan meanwhile remain in the relegation zone but go into this one on the back of a dramatic win at home to Rotherham on Saturday.
Nick Powell’s 96th minute effort earned a vital 3-2 triumph for Latics but despite that, they are still seven points adrift of safety with five games to play.
That victory did end a run of four defeats on the bounce however and they will be desperate to build on that against the Reds.
Previous Meetings
The Reds will be looking to put in a repeat performance from last season’s trip to the DW Stadium.
On the final day of the League One campaign, goals from Conor Hourihane, Josh Brownhill and a Sam Winnall brace earned the Reds a 4-1 win and with it, secured a play-off spot for the Club.
That victory was Barnsley’s second at the DW Stadium last term following a penalty shoot-out success in the Football League Trophy.
Wigan did secure all three points in the reverse fixture at Oakwell but when the two sides met earlier this season in South Yorkshire, it ended goalless.
In total there have been three draws between the Clubs, as well as four wins for Barnsley and six for Wigan.
Team News
Paul Heckingbottom may opt to rotate his side ahead of the trip to Wigan.
Alex Mowatt, Tom Bradshaw and Adam Armstrong will all be pushing for starting berths, while Callum Elder will be eager to play after recovering from a thigh problem.
Andy Yiadom will not be involved however due to a shoulder injury and Adam Hammill remains a doubt after missing the trip to Blackburn on Saturday.
Hosts Wigan could be tempted to hand Nick Powell his first start for three months.
The former Manchester United youngster returned from injury to net the winning goal against Rotherham on Saturday and he could play a vital role if Latics are to beat the drop this season.
With Omar Bogle (thigh) and Will Grigg (knee) both unlikely to play again this season, Gabriel Obertan could be given the nod up front once again after netting his first goal for the Club on Saturday.
Elsewhere, former Barnsley loanee Sam Morsy will hope to feature against his former side but Andy Kellett, Donervon Daniels and Ryan Tunnicliffe are long-term absentees.
Man in the Middle
Simon Hooper will take charge of a Barnsley game for the eighth time on Thursday evening.
The Wiltshire-based official has overseen two wins for the Reds, as well as five defeats; one of which came earlier this season when Barnsley went down 2-1 at Leeds.
Hooper has also been involved in seven Wigan games in his career so far including three already this season.
The first two of those games ended in defeats for Latics against Brighton and Newcastle but they did secure a 1-0 victory at Wolves in their most recent meeting with Hooper.
They are three of 38 games he has taken charge of so far this term; brandishing 133 yellow cards but just three reds.
Their Star Man
He may have missed the last three months of action but Nick Powell’s return from a hamstring problem could not have been more timely for Thursday night’s hosts Wigan.
The Crewe youth product was introduced as a 74th minute substitute against Rotherham on Saturday and deep into injury time, his thunderous free-kick secured a dramatic 3-2 win for Latics.
It was his second goal for the Lancashire outfit since joining them on a permanent deal from Manchester United in the summer; having previously netted 12 goals in 41 games during a loan spell from Old Trafford in 2013.
With just five games left to play and Wigan in desperate need of points, Powell’s ability on the ball, quality from set-pieces and goal scoring threat could make a massive difference as they battle to stay in the Championship.
Mutual Man
Danny Wilson will always be remembered fondly by Barnsley fans after guiding the Reds into the top flight for the first time in the Club’s history.
Originally arriving at Oakwell as a player in 1993, a year later and he became player-manager following the departure of Viv Anderson to Middlesbrough.
After finishing sixth and 10th in his first two seasons, Wilson’s third campaign at the helm would be one to remember as the Reds finished second and clinched their promotion to the Premier League.
Despite only going onto spend one season in the top flight, Wilson’s side produced some memorable performances including the 1-0 win at Anfield, while the now 57-year-old also guided the Reds to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after beating Manchester United in the fifth round.
Following that campaign Wilson left for South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday but 15 years on and he was back at Oakwell.
Replacing David Flitcroft and with the Reds sitting bottom of the Championship it was a tough ask for the former Bristol City and Hartlepool boss and unfortunately for the Reds, they suffered relegation at the end of the 2013-14 season.
Things didn’t get any easier for Wilson in League One however and in February 2015 he left the Club with the Reds sitting just seven points above the drop zone.
He has since had a spell in charge of Chesterfield but it was with hometown Club Wigan which Wilson actually began his career.
The former Northern Ireland international played for Latics in the Northern Premier League before moving on for pastures new and enjoying spells with Bury, Chesterfield, Nottingham Forest, Scunthorpe, Brighton, Luton and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Barnsley in 1993.
Form Guide
Barnsley’s last five away from home: (WLLLW)
Aston Villa 1-3 Barnsley
Derby County 2-1 Barnsley
QPR 2-1 Barnsley
Norwich 2-0 Barnsley
Blackburn 0-2 Barnsley
Wigan’s last five at home: (DDLLW)
Wigan 0-0 Preston
Wigan 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Wigan 0-1 Bristol City
Wigan 0-2 Aston Villa
Wigan 3-2 Rotherham
Going to the match?
Wigan Athletic plays at the DW Stadium, its address is as follows:
DW Stadium
Loire Drive
Wigan
WN5 0UZ
How to get there
From the North: Exit M6 at Junction 27 and turn left at end of slip road. Turn right at T-junction, sign-posted Shevington. After 1 mile turn left into Old Lane (signed B5375 Standish Lower-Ground). The road winds through countryside for approx. 2 miles. At traffic lights turn right into Scot Lane. Take the first left turn into Stadium Way for the entrance to the Stadium Car Parks or second left for the main entrance.
From South and West: Exit M6 at Junction 25. At end of slip road (approx. 1 mile) turn left, sign-posted Wigan A49. Continue past Sainsbury's and cross the roundabout, 2nd exit. Follow signs for Wigan A49 for 1.2 miles to saddle roundabout. At the Saddle roundabout, take first exit sign-posted Standish A49 into Robin Park Road, driving past the ASDA superstore. Follow signs for DW Stadium.
From the West (Alternative route): Exit M6 J26 (M58/M6 Interchange). Exit the motorway by following the signs for Wigan/Orrell/Upholland. At the end of slip road, turn right. Continue on this road to the Saddle Junction (approx 2.5 miles). At the saddle roundabout, take first exit and drive past the Asda Superstore. Follow signs for DW Stadium.
From the East: Exit M61 at Junction 6 (sign-posted Chorley, Horwich A6027) and take first exit at roundabout. NB: do not exit at Junction 5 which is sign-posted Wigan. At next roundabout, take first left (sign-posted Westhoughton A6, Wigan B5238) into Chorley Road. After 0.3 miles, turn right (sign-posted Wigan B5238). After 1.8 miles, turn left at Aspull Roundabout (sign-posted Wigan B5238). After 2.2 miles, just after Earl of Balcarres pub, turn right at traffic lights. Proceed down the hill turning left at next lights with Quality Hotel on corner.
Follow ring road and get into second lane from right as road bears right into Caroline Street, sign-posted Orrell. Continue on ring road following road as it bears left passing the "Go Outdoors" shop on the left hand side again sign-posted for Orrell. Pass Wigan Pier on right and as the road goes under the railway bridge get into right hand lane to turn right into Robin Park Road Sign-posted for Robin Park. Follow signs for DW Stadium.
Parking
The DW Stadium has 2000 car parking spaces located around the stadium. Please refrain from using the Robin Retail Park, cinema, Asda and B+Q car parks as these are not official car parks. Supporters who use these car parks are at risk of being clamped and fined.
By Rail
Wigan is served by two railway stations (almost opposite each other on Wallgate in Wigan), Wigan Northern Western and Wigan Wallgate.
Wigan North Western is on the West coast main line with links to Liverpool while Wigan Wallgate is used for regional services to Manchester, Southport and Liverpool (via Kirkby).
Taxis are available from outside Wigan North Western station which approximate 1.4 miles away from the DW Stadium. A taxi to the DW Stadium should cost approximately £5 from Wigan North Western station.
