[BFC SITE] Reds progress to Carabao Cup Round Two

Shootout heroics from debutant Gabriel Slonina secured a victory for Barnsley FC in the first round of the Carabao Cup, as he saved two penalties at the Brick Community Stadium to see past Wigan Athletic following a 1-1 draw in which Darrell Clarke’s side displayed plenty of attacking intent.

The Reds started positively, employing a press in the opposition half to great effect, and completely dominating possession in the opening minutes.

After 5 minutes, Barnsley had their first clearcut chance of the game, when Barry Cotter hit a ball on the right flank following a throw-in. This cross reached young midfielder Vimal Yoganathan, who hit a powerful shot which deflected off an opposition defender and went out of play. Deputising Reds’ skipper Josh Earl then came close from the subsequent corner kick with a header which was caught by Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle.

The home side were then denied in the 18th minute, when a forward run by winger Dion Rankine resulted in a whipped cross being fired into the ball, with Earl rising to it and heading the errant ball away from any danger. Four minutes later, the Reds had their own chance to open the scoring with a Cotter free-kick from thirty yards out. The Irishman produced a strong shot over the wall which was punched away by the Wigan stopper at the centre of his goal-line. This allowed the Latics to produce a counter-attack, with forward Hugill hitting a powerful effort from just outside the box which was prevented by an excellent diving save by debutant Reds keeper, Slonina.

Barnsley continued to press well as the half progressed. After 25 minutes, Yoganathan produced an outstanding mazing run on the left flank, interlinking with Georgie Gent to receive the ball, before cutting inside and turning the Wigan full back the wrong way. The young Reds’ midfielder then squared the ball for Jon Russell, who was only denied what would have been an excellent opener by a last-ditch block by an opposition defender.

However, the Reds could not hold off Wigan throughout the half, and in the 35th minute, Wigan defender Ramsay was brought down in the area by Yoganathan. Thelo Aasgaard subsequently dispatched the spot kick past Slonina to give the home side a one goal advantage.

Barnsley almost equalised immediately after the restart, with captain Earl working the ball onto the left flank and crossing into the area. Sam Cosgrove responded to this with a shot from close-range in the centre of the box, which was collected by the Wigan goalkeeper, meaning that the Reds went into half time with a single-goal deficit to overturn.

HALF TIME: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Barnsley FC

The home side had a chance to double their lead at the beginning of the half, with the goalscorer Aasgaard managing to get past the Reds’ defensive line into a one-on-one position, leading to Slonina making another outstanding save to deny him a second goal.

A corner kick was awarded from the subsequent Barnsley counter, and Donovan Pines rose tall at the back post to beat the run of the Wigan ‘keeper and head Gent’s cross into the Wigan net, for his third goal in five appearances, and a much-needed equaliser for the Reds.

The resurgent Reds nearly scored a second goal three minutes after the leveller, with Gent producing a cross on the left wing, which was headed to the edge of the area, and the feet of Jon Russell, whose well-hit effort deflected off a Wigan defender and out of play.

Head Coach, Darrell Clarke made a series of substitutions at the 55 minute mark, and this continued to produce positive results as Barnsley chased a second goal. In the 59th minute, Luca Connell hit a shot in space from 30 yards out which was aimed over the crossbar, and a minute later, great buildup play saw Cotter one-on-one with the Wigan stopper, Tickle, although the right wing-back was unable to direct his effort on target.

The Reds continued to press for another goal as the half progressed. In the 65th minute, Kacper Lopata responded to a corner kick with a goalbound looping header, which was only denied by a defensive clearance in the area. Barnsley also came close minutes later, when Adam Phillips was able to spot the advancing run of Kyran Lofthouse into the box, and delivered a powerful ball which the substitute could only direct over the bar.

Given this sustained pressure in the opposition half, Barnsley were not to be discounted, and they continued to impress as the closing stages of the contest transpired. Cotter came close once more in the 73rd minute, reacting to a Connell corner with a right-footed half-volley which just whistled past the post. Marsh also nearly produced a second goal, when he received the ball from a De Gevigney run well into the Wigan half, and hit a shot just outside the box which was gathered hastily by the opposition stopper.

The Reds had another great chance in the 82nd minute, when Adam Phillips received the ball from 20 yards out, to the right of the box, and hit a curling shot which forced Tickle into a save. This set up a combative end to the 90, with Darrell Clarke’s men putting the home side under severe pressure and looking ever stronger as the conclusion of play neared. Watters came closest in the 92nd minute, receiving the ball in the area from a Marsh cross and rifling the ball goalwards, only for his effort to be blocked on the line by a Wigan defender.

Therefore, despite pressing high and attacking constantly in the closing minutes of the contest, the Reds were unable to break the deadlock in the remainder of normal time, meaning that the first-round tie would be decided by a penalty shootout.

FULL TIME: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley

Phillips took the first spot kick of the shootout for the Reds, dispatching his penalty with a sweet finish into the bottom right corner and sending Tickle the wrong way. Slonina was on hand to deny Aasgaard the same privilege on his Reds debut, diving to prevent the Norweigan's leftwards effort.

Connell stepped up next, with a shot into the centre of the net which was caught by the Wigan ‘keeper. And Slonina was unable to stop Jordan Jones’ spot kick, which bundled into the bottom-left of the net.

Earl was next to take his spot kick, with a confident effort into the right corner which Tickle got a hand to, but was unable to deny. And the Reds’ American stopper stepped up again to prevent Scott Smith from dispatching his own effort, with a swift dive to his left.

Max Watters took Barnsley’s fourth penalty, with a hard-hit shot which confidently hit the left of the net with force. Harry McHugh then stepped up for Wigan, with a side-footed shot to Slonina’s right, which beat him into the net.

However, this could not deny Russell, who coolly slotted his own effort into the bottom-left of the net, to win the shootout and secure Barnsley’s passage into the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Barnsley: Slonina, Cotter, Pines (Lopata, 56), De Gevigney, Earl, Gent (Lofthouse, 56), Craig (Connell, 55), Russell, Yoganathan (Phillips, 45), Marsh, Cosgrove (Watters, 55)

Subs not used: Killip, O’Keeffe, McCarthy, Farrell

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