Barnsley gained an impressive 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic who were given an early red card.

Home defender Charlie Hughes was controversially sent off midway through the first half for a foul on Devante Cole who opened the scoring minutes later.

The Reds missed a series of chances for a second goal but eventually debutant John McAtee netted in injury-time and they recorded their second win of the season and moved onto seven points from five games.

Wigan had won three and drawn one of their opening four games so would be top if not for a points deduction, but could not react to the dismissal.

Liam Kitching dropped out of the squad due to injury with Callum Styles, Mael de Givegney and Andy Dallas benched. Jack Shepherd came in for his full league debut with Jon Russell, Barry Cotter and Max Watters also in.

Fit-again Corey O’Keeffe and new signing John McAtee were on the bench.

Barnsley had a big chance in the 15th minute when Cole played Watters clean through but he screwed a shot well wide from the edge of the box when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Charlie Hughes was sent off on 22 minutes for bringing down Cole when last man. The hosts felt the defender had got the ball and replays appeared to confirm that.

Cole opened the scoring three minutes later when he deftly turned in a right-wing Barry Cotter cross following a one, two with Jordan Williams.

Barnsley then had a flurry of chances just before the break. Adam Phillips’ back heel flick from Cadden’s cross was turned around the right post by Sam Tickle. The goalkeeper then dropped a cross but recovered to make a fine save from Shepherd’s close-range volley. Tickle also did well to get down to his right again to keep out a low Phillips 20-yard strike and Cole could not scramble in the rebound.

Wigan’s first half-chance arrived in first half injury-time when Baba Adeeko’s cross was headed well wide by Liam Morrison.

In the second half, Wigan started on top and wanted a penalty against Jack Shepherd after a fine Steven Humphrys run from the right.

Cadden shot wide from 25 yards then McAtee made his debut in place of Watters.

McAtee should have scored within minutes of coming on as, after Tickle totally missed a long ball, the goal was completely open but he missed from the left of the box. The same player then struck the right post from a tight angle after a good run.

Wigan’s first shot on target arrived in the 79th minute when Callum Lang’s header from a Tom Pearce free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Liam Roberts.

Cole had the ball in the back of the net again on 82 minutes from a Cadden cross but the linesman lefties his flag for offside. Cadden then saw a long-range shot easily saved.

The second goal arrived in the second minute of injury-time when Aiden Marsh ran down the right wing and crossed low for McAtee who found the bottom corner off the right post from just inside the box. McAtee almost made it three after beating a player 20 yards out but the goalkeeper sprang to his left to save.

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Roberts; Williams, Lopata, Shepherd; Cotter (O’Keeffe 73mins), Russell, Kane, Phillips (Styles 83), Cadden; Cole (Marsh 83), Watters (McAtee 65).

Unused: Killip, de Givegney, Dallas.

Yellow cards: Williams, Kane.

Goals: Cole 25.

Wigan (4-2-3-1): Tickle; Clare (Jones 63mins), Watts, Hughes, Pearce; Adeeko, Smith; Humphrys, Lang, McManaman (Morrison 26); Wyke.

Unused: Amos, Smith, Sze, Balagizi, Magennis.

Red cards: Hughes.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:02pm
    Herbie Kane down with a problem after being knocked off the ball by Sean Clare. He gets up and carries on
  • 3:04pm
    Not a bad start for the Reds. They look well organised so far. Nothing to report in terms of chances but they have passed it around ok so far
  • 3:05pm
    Stephen Humphrys whips in a low cross from the right of the box but Shepherd does well to put it behind for a corner
  • 3:06pm
    6 Tom Pearce's right wing corner is cleared by Cole
  • 3:07pm
    Wigan have had most of the ball in the last few minutes, not creating real problems yet though
  • 3:10pm
    Wigan are trying to pass out from the back around Barnsley's press. they get it wrong and conceded a throw but Shepherd's long throw down the wing is cleared
  • 3:12pm
    12 Minutes in and Wigan must have had 75 per. cent of the ball at least . No chances at either end though
  • 3:14pm
    First big chance of the game goes to Barnsley. Watters shows pace to latch onto Cole's through ball but skews well wide when one on one
  • 3:15pm
    That could babe a big moment. It was a really good counter attack and Watters did everything right until shanking the finishing well wide
  • 3:18pm
    A couple of surprising decisions from the referee. He gives a foul by Nicky Cadden when the Barnsley man appeared to be taken out by Matt Smith
  • 3:20pm
    Approaching the 20-minute mark. Barnsley will be pretty happy overall considering the players they have missing. No chances for the hosts but Watters missed a big one for Barnsley. Wigan have had most of the ball, though
  • 3:21pm
    RED CARD
    Charlie Hughes sent off for Wigan
  • 3:22pm
    The defender is dismissed for sliding in on Devante Cole who was through on goal
  • 3:23pm
    The resulting free-kick is blocked by the wall
  • 3:24pm
    I think that decision will be debated. My gut reaction was he might have got the ball, but I could be wrong. Either way. massive opportunity for the Reds now. Brilliant tenacity from Cole to get ball and run through on goal
  • 3:25pm
    Barnsley on top now. They win a corner which is cleared
  • 3:26pm
    GOAL!
    Devante Cole opens the scoring
  • 3:27pm
    The striker nets his fifth of the season, turning in a right wing cross by Barry Cotter who records his third assist
  • 3:30pm
    30 Kane's corner from the left is headed out
  • 3:32pm
    Wigan reeling after the double blow of red card then goal. Barnsley attacking regularly. Even against ten men they need to take control of this game now while they are well on top
  • 3:34pm
    Away end in full voice. The home crowd has gone very very quiet
  • 3:36pm
    Not a great deal has happened in the last few minutes but the Reds have control most of the possession
  • 3:36pm
    In the aftermath of the goal, Wigan brought on Liam Morrison for Callum McManaman as a reaction to the red card
  • 3:37pm
    Barnsley did well to take advantage of Wigan's defence being without a centre-back before they made a change
  • 3:40pm
    39 Wigan long throw from the right taken but Stephen Humphrys. Headed out. Then Cotter sprints 70 yards up the right wing before winning a throw
  • 3:41pm
    40 Cotter's long throw from thee right. After he swaps the flat ball for a new one. It's flicked on then cleared from near the goal
  • 3:42pm
    Cotter surges forward again and shoots wide of the bottom left corner from about 25 yards yards
  • 3:43pm
    42 Cadden's cross from the left is acrobatically back heeled towards goal by P[hillips but pushed around bottom left corner. Corner cleared
  • 3:43pm
    Now Barnsley have another chance. A cross from the left is dropped by the goalkeeper and falls to Shepherd at the back post whose effort is well saved
  • 3:44pm
    Another chance. A corner from the right finds Phillips whose good low strike from just outside the box is well saved by Tickle down to his right then Cole cannot scramble in the rebound
  • 3:46pm
    Humphries wins a corner on the right for Wigan as four added minutes are indicated
  • 3:46pm
    Corner headed out, crossed back in by Baba Adeeko and Liam Morrison heads well wide
  • 3:51pm
    HALF-TIME: Wigan 0, Barnsley 1. Charlie Hughes sent off for the hosts on 22 minutes then Devante Cole netted soon after
  • 4:07pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:09pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Jordan Williams booked for a foul. Looked like he might have been fouled first
  • 4:10pm
    Tom Pearce's free-kick met at the back post but Russell wins the ball and Barnsley clear
  • 4:11pm
    Stephen Humphrys drives into the box from the right and goes down. The hosts want a penalty but none given
  • 4:13pm
    Wigan have come out on the attack,. Barnsley defending a lot at the minute
  • 4:14pm
    The home fans are getting behind their team again after it went very quiet in the first half
  • 4:18pm
    The match has quietened down a bit now after the Latics started the half on top
  • 4:20pm
    Neill Collins deep in discussion with his staff. They might be considering changes. Lots of subs warming up
  • 4:20pm
    But on the pitch Barnsley are holding their own. Kane plays a good pass to Cadden on left of box but it just runs under his foot
  • 4:22pm
    Shepherd concedes corner on the right
  • 4:22pm
    61 Right wing corner taken by Tom Pearce. Headed out by Phillips
  • 4:23pm
    62 Nicky Cadden cuts in from the left and his right-footed shot from 25 yards goes wide
  • 4:24pm
    Wigan bring on Jordan Jones for Sean Clare
  • 4:24pm
    McAtee about to come on
  • 4:26pm
    McAtee replaces Watters
  • 4:28pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Herbie Kane booked for a cynical late tackle on Stephen Humphrys who was leading a counter attack
  • 4:29pm
    Jordan Jones' poor free-kick is easily cleared
  • 4:29pm
    Wow. John McAtee misses an open goal minutes into his debut after the goalkeeper totally missed a long ball.
  • 4:31pm
    What an opportunity to put the Reds in control. Tickle tried to head the ball on the edge of his box and missed it. McAtee was at a tight angle on the left but the goal was open and he scuffed it well wide
  • 4:31pm
    Now McAtee strikes the post from a tight angle on the right after a good run
  • 4:34pm
    Jordan Jones' free-kick from the left is caught by Roberts
  • 4:34pm
    Corey O'Keeffe comes on for Barry Cotter who has had a decent game again
  • 4:37pm
    15 minutes left. Plenty of work still to do for the Reds who would have been out of sight if they had taken their chances
  • 4:39pm
    Wigan bring on striker Josh Magennis for midfielder Baba Adeeko. A very attacking change
  • 4:39pm
    O'Keeffe concedes a free-kick on left wing
  • 4:40pm
    79 Left wing free-kick by Tom Pearce headed by Callum Lang and touched onto the bar by Liam Roberts
  • 4:41pm
    Now Phillips concede a free-kick just outside box on left
  • 4:41pm
    Now Phillips concede a free-kick just outside box on left
  • 4:42pm
    Now Humphrys shoots well wide from distance
  • 4:42pm
    Aiden Marsh and Callum Styles coming on
  • 4:43pm
    Cole has the ball in the net from a Cadden cross but the flag is up for offside
  • 4:44pm
    Phillips and Cole replaced by Marsh and Styles
  • 4:45pm
    Cadden's long-range shot is saved
  • 4:50pm
    89 Marsh's volley across goal is turned behind for a corner
  • 4:52pm
    Five added minutes
  • 4:53pm
    GOAL!
    John McAtee gets a debut goal to surely secure the win for the Reds
  • 4:57pm
    Well done Aiden Marsh. Runs down the right and squares for McAtee who nets via the right post with a good finish. Big big win
  • 4:57pm
    McAtee almost gets another as he shows great feat to beat a man and shoot from the edge of the box but the goalkeeper saves to his right
  • 4:58pm
    FULL-TIME: Wigan 0, Barnsley 2.

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