Our U23s fell to a 2-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic in the Professional Development League on Wednesday afternoon.
Two goals in two first half minutes from Latics striker Tom Costello were enough for the Lancashire side to claim all three points at the Oakwell Training Ground.
The Reds started the game strongly, with a great chance to get the opening goal within the first five minutes as a dangerous cross from the right found Fabio Jalo, but his flicked shot cannoned off the left upright and was safely cleared.
Barnsley had most of the possession in the opening quarter, with the visitors seemingly happy to sit back and let us create chances.
However, it was Wigan who took the lead against the run of play after Dean Pinnington picked the ball up in the centre circle and drove forward before threading an exquisite pass to Costello, who rifled home into the far corner.
The Latics doubled their lead within moments as Costello grabbed his second of the encounter with a fine volley beyond Daniel Jinadu from a Chris Sze cross.
Barnsley showed great character as they tried to get something from the game and Aiden Marsh had a decent opportunity to halve the deficit, but his strike was well-saved by Sam Tickle.
Tickle was called into action again a few minutes later as the Reds continued their hunt of a goal. Will Lancaster swung in a free-kick from the left, which was met by Marsh at the near post, but the Latics stopper incredibly kept his clean sheet intact from point blank range.
The half-time whistle could not come soon enough for the visitors as Barnsley peppered their goal, with the final chance falling to Cameron Thompson who fired narrowly wide from a low Marsh cross.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Straight from the restart, Wigan were in again when Sze lofted the ball over the head of the onrushing Jinadu, but the ball was superbly cleared off the line by Amir Ariely.
Substitute Keegan Hartley and Kareem Hassen-Smith combined to find Marsh in space on the right, but his shot could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
With time ticking away and with Wigan having most of the ball in the second half, chances were few and far between for our young Reds with the final chance coming just before the whistle when Hayden Pickard’s corner was teased across the box, but no one could get the all-important touch to put the ball in the net.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0-2 Wigan Athletic
REDS XI: Jinadu (GK), Hassan-Smith, Pickard, Ariely, Hickingbottom (Goucher), Helliwell, Nejman (Hartley), Lancaster, Thompson, Marsh, Jalo.
Not used: Aziaya, Hall, Smith.
