Barnsley’s six-game unbeaten league run at Oakwell game to an end with a 1-0 defeat against lowly Wigan Athletic.

The visitors netted just before half-time, with their only shot on target, then defended well.

In very wet conditions, the Reds were poor overall although they did improve slightly and create chances late on.

After their five-game unbeaten league run ended, Barnsley slipped down a place to sixth.

Darrell Clarke made one change from the 1-1 draw at Cambridge United a week before. Luca Connell came back from suspension in place of the injured Max Watters. Sam Cosgrove was back on the bench after injury.

Barnsley’s Adam Phillips and Wigan’s Silko Thomas had shots off target from outside the box in the first ten minutes then Davis Keillor-Dunn was almost played through by a poor backpass but goalkeeper Sam Tickle won the tackle.

Very little happened for the next half an hour but Barnsley were having a spell of pressure when they conceded against the run of play on 43 minutes. Thomas easily beat Corey O’Keeffe on the left of the box then chipped up a cross for the unmarked Thleo Aasgard to head home from close range.

Early in the second half, Aasgaard volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Barnsley were poor straight after the break and Clarke made a quadruple change. Cosgrove, Kelechi Nwakali, Donovan Pines and Fabio Jalo came on for O’Keeffe, Phillips, Jon Russell and Georgie Gent. The Reds changed to 4-2-3-1 with four centre-backs across the back four.

Barnsley came very close to a leveller midway through the second half when they had their first efforts on target during a goalmouth scramble after a corner. Earl’s header was cleared off the line then Pines looked certain to score but Will Aimson deflected his shot over from a couple of yards out.

Connell put three long-range shots off target then visiting goalkeeper Sam Tickle’s first save came on 86 minutes and saw him dive to his left to easily catch a Cosgrove header from a Nwakali cross.

In the nine added minutes, Marc Roberts headed wide from a Jalo corner then Jalo’s long-range effort was easily saved.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Killip; de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe (Cosgrove 56mins), Phillips (Jalo 56), Connell (Lofthouse 87), Russell (Nwakali 56), Gent (Pines 56); Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys.

Unused: Smith, Craig, Lofthouse.

Yellow cards: Pines, Connell.

Wigan (4-2-3-1): Tickle; Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Sessegnon (Robinson 78mins); Adeeko, Francois (S Smith 45+1); Rankine (J Smith 71mins), Aasgaard (Weir 71), Thomas (Carragher 78); Taylor.

Unused: Watson, Asamoah.

Yellow cards: Sibbick, S Smith, Robinson.

Goals: Aasgaard 43.