Analysis from Barnsley's EFL Cup first round win at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday. Donovan Pines equalised in a 1-1 draw then the visitors won the penalty shoot-out 4-2.
GAGA THE HERO
DEBUT goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina stole the headlines with two penalty saves in the shoot-out.
The Chelsea loanee denied Thelo Aasgard – who had sent him the wrong way with a spot-kick in normal time – with the first kick of the shoot-out then sprang to his left to save Wigan’s third from Josh Stones before celebrating wildly. That was after also making some good saves in the 90 minutes, with two in particular following errors by the underperforming Mael de Gevigney.
The pun opportunities are almost endless for a goalkeeper who introduces himself by his nickname Gaga. A star was born after he kept a poker face in the shoot-out.
The 20-year-old American international is billed as a ball-playing goalkeeper and certainly seemed to want to pass out from the back and pick out team-mates with quick throws to start attacks. But the greasy conditions on a wet night made that difficult, and a few attempts went straight out of play. He also slipped over within the first five minutes – a nervy moment for the recruitment team and coaching staff.
There were a few scrambles after crosses as he gets used to working with a new defence but, overall, it was a very encouraging debut.
Slonina and compatriot Donovan Pines are two big characters and figures, with the few hundred away fans chanting ‘USA!’ regularly.
Slonina’s heroics would have been meaningless if not for his team-mates scoring four penalties.
Adam Phillips, Josh Earl, Max Watters and Jon Russell all held their nerve from the spot, as Barnsley went first in the shoot-out and won 4-2. Defender Earl – who started as captain – clinically found the bottom right corner while Russell scored the winning penalty and is quietly having a good start of the season.
Luca Connell missed Barnsley’s second spot-kick, shooting straight down the middle and seeing Sam Tickle just stand up and push it away. It was a second penalty miss of the summer for the Reds captain after being denied against Mallorca in pre-season.
REDS DESERVE WIN AFTER SECOND HALF
This was just Barnsley’s ninth EFL Cup win in the last 15 seasons.
Clearly it is a lower priority than the league but a cup run could generate some momentum, give fringe players minutes and lead to a lucrative and exciting tie against a top side.
Darrell Clarke made six changes from Friday’s loss to Mansfield but most of those who came in were genuine competitors for a starting spot in the league. He brought some of his best players off the bench rather than finishing with essentially an under 21s side as in previous seasons like a year ago when they lost to Tranmere on penalties.
In teeming rain and with only a smattering of fans watching, it may have been difficult to find motivation but Barnsley seemed to have plenty throughout the night as they grew into the game and deserved to win it.
After a dull first half only really notable for the penalty goal, Wigan created two big chances at the start of the second either side of Pines’ leveller.
But, following a quadruple Reds change on 57 minutes, Barnsley were totally dominant with Wigan barely able to keep the ball or get out of their half and conceding regular chances. The visitors were again let down by their finishing but not in the shoot-out and are unbeaten in five meetings with the Latics.
Home boss Shaun Maloney pointed out that both sides were managing their first choice players’ minutes and he started with many of his whereas Barnsley brought several of their stars on. But, both with the players they used and the way they played in the second half, the Reds just looked the hungrier side to get into the second round.
Midfielders Phillips and Connell came on and dictated the match with their excellent passing, which led to countless attacks, and ability to control the midfield. Phillips was accidentally introduced onto the pitch as Conor Hourihane – who was on the bench with his fellow coaches – and some of his passing was reminiscent of the Irishman at his best.
LEARNING NIGHT FOR YOGANATHAN
Vimal Yoganathan made his second professional start, with his first being in the harrowing 5-1 loss at Bradford City in the EFL Trophy last season.
This was another tough night for 18-year-old, as he was booked early on then conceded the penalty for Wigan’s opener and was taken off at half-time for Phillips.
But it must also be said that, playing on the left of a midfield three, he was arguably Barnsley’s brightest attacking player in a dour first half – beating defenders and showing good control and passing range. He clearly has immense talent and must use this game as a learning experience which does not impact his confidence. He is an aggressive tackler but needs to learn to harness than in a controlled way as he adapts to the pace of senior football.
The penalty saw him trip Calvin Ramsay who had cut in from the right and swapped passes with Baba Adeeko whose clever backheel caught the Reds out.
Referee Will Finnie had awarded penalties in his previous two Barnsley games – against Liam Roberts in the play-offs in May and against Carlisle in January which was converted for a Herbie Kane winner.
PINES CONTINUES GOAL RUN
Pines has three goals in his last three starts for Barnsley, with the first two separated from this one by five months and surgery on an injured thigh. The towering centre-back has only started four games in total for the club.
This goal was an equaliser early in the second half as he nodded in a right-wing corner at the back post after goalkeeper Tickle rushed off his line and left his net empty.
The goals are just an added bonus to his main job of defending which he did generally well on Tuesday considering it was his first match back from injury in tough conditions against a pacy Wigan attack.
The Reds’ back three had some difficult moments at times, especially in the first hour, with de Gevigney enduring a particularly tough night as he was caught on the ball and gifted Wigan big chances.
For Pines, playing 57 minutes was a big step in the right direction towards challenging Marc Roberts and others to start in league games. He is not used to playing twice in a week so the Reds will have to be careful but he must be in contention to play some role at Lincoln on Saturday.
The assist for his goal was a corner by Georgie Gent who had a much better evening than on Friday when he was taken off after 25 minutes – another who will gain confidence from the game.
WATTERS PENALTY COULD BE CONFIDENCE BOOST
Watters’ penalty in the shoot-out felt like a big moment.
The striker has had very little to celebrate since joining permanently last summer, especially in the second half of last season after he was dropped to the under 21s.
But he is now back in the first team mix and, in his start on Friday and substitute appearance here, he showed some of the attributes that he was brought in for – clever movement and powerful running which cause defences issues.
Obviously he needs to start scoring and missed a golden opportunity in injury-time when, after an Aiden Marsh cross was inexplicably headed straight to him by defender James Carragher, he dragged a poor shot wide of the gaping goal a few yards out.
He took Barnsley’s fourth penalty of the shoot-out minutes later and kept his cool, despite the pressure, to slot home before smiling warmly.
The last time Barnsley won at Wigan, almost exactly a year earlier, the scorers were Devante Cole and John McAtee – who netted 33 goals between them last season then left. They are yet to be fully replaced, with new signings set to arrive before the deadline, but that penalty could at least be the start of Watters gaining confidence and being part of an effective forwards unit.
Watters was not the only player to miss a chance at Wigan. Barry Cotter inexplicably shot over in the second half, just eight yards out with the goal gaping, from a cross by Kyran Lofthouse who also blazed over, with a more difficult chance, following a superb Phillips pass.
