Barnsley 0-0 Wigan: Tykes stay bottom of Championship
- Published
Paul Cook's Wigan are facing a 12-point deduction after going into administration
Barnsley missed the chance to move off the bottom of the Championship as they were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Wigan Athletic.
The hosts should have taken the lead at Oakwell on the hour mark as Michael Sollbauer turned and volleyed just wide of the mark when he was through on goal.
Wigan were reduced to 10 men when Danny Fox was sent off for a late challenge on Elliot Simoes with just under 20 minutes to go.
The Latics should have earned all three points when Kal Naismith floated a ball towards goal but Jordan Williams put in a tremendous clearance to save Barnsley.
The result means Barnsley remain bottom of the Championship and three points from safety with three games still to play, while Wigan are 15th and nine points off the bottom three.
However, the Latics face a 12-point deduction after going into administration at the start of this month, and are effectively four points from safety.
A physical battle
Barnsley controlled much of the first half and were unfortunate not to take the lead through Kilian Ludewig's shot across the face of goal.
Wigan took their time to ease into the match and were almost caught at the back when they failed to clear their lines and Jacob Brown forced Latics goalkeeper David Marshall into a fine diving save to deny his dipping shot.
There was a brief break in play midway through the first half after Wigan defender Antonee Robinson came off worse from an aerial collision with Alex Mowatt.
Robinson was cleared to continue but embroiled in controversy soon after when he put in a reckless tackle which flipped Ludewig in the air before the German landed awkwardly on his neck.
Ludewig himself was fine to play on after receiving treatment but Robinson was probably lucky to remain on the field after referee David Webb only produced a yellow card.
The visitors finally eased into the game and almost went in at the break on top when Sollbauer put in a tremendous last ditch tackle to deny Kieran Dowell after the Wigan midfielder was played through on goal.
Time running out for both
Coming into the game bottom of the table, a win for Barnsley could have taken them to within a point of safety.
With matches still to play against high-flying Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, the Tykes' survival hopes are now looking bleak.
Luton's win against Huddersfield on Friday in another relegation battle, ensured that the end-of-season run-in would remain entertaining for the neutral, but Barnsley's inability to put away their chances was symbolic of the situation they find themselves in.
It was a spirited performance against a Latics side who had been in fine form until off-the-field issues threatened to decimate their season.
But Barnsley failed to make their chances, and man advantage, count and now have an unenviable task to claw back the points necessary to maintain their place in English football's second tier.
Wigan's problems behind the scenes have truly shaped their season and, needing as many points as they can muster, this was not the match to show their supporters and boss Paul Cook that they could stave off the drop.
They were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men earlier after Robinson's horrific challenge, and losing Fox left them defensively vulnerable as Barnsley chased a desperate winner.
Despite their disadvantage, Naismith should have gifted Wigan an eighth victory in 10 matches had he hit the target with his late effort.
The visitors will be encouraged that they managed to grind out a point given their lack of fortune off the field clouding their season and, heading into their final three games, their future could be in their own hands as they chase down the necessary points to stay in the division.
Manager reaction
Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Sheffield: "My team made a similar performance to Luton. In the end we have one point. We could not make the most of our chances today.
"The disappointing situation is that we picked up just one point. That is not what I expected.
"I am 100% convinced after this game we have a very good chance to stay in the league."
Wigan assistant manager Leam Richardson said: "Any points in this league, certainly away from home, are gold. In the current situation it's another positive, another clean sheet and a solid performance, we're moving forward in the direction that we want.
"There's solid performances individually and collectively, so is it deflating? Far from it. We're realistic with the situation other people are facing. We're professional football people. We're trying our best on the football pitch."