There was two changes in the starting lineup saw Calvin Zola drop out of the team and not making a place on the bench, Scott Vernon replaced him upfront. David Eyres dropped to the bench and Ernie Cooksey took his place following suspension. Will Haining and Wes Wilkinson found places on the bench.
Now to the action and it was
A couple of minutes later Paul Murray went down the right wing and managed to pass the ball across the box under heavy pressure, the ball somehow found it’s way through a crowd of players to an unmarked Ernie Cooksey but his shot was well charged down by the Barnsley defence.
The fast pace to the start of the game produced another chance early on. A good run by John Eyre down the right, Michael Clegg was found with a pass and he crossed to
11 minutes into the game
On 14 minutes Daniel Nardiello who is on loan from Manchester United went down in the box theatrically after a tangle with Adam Griffin, from what I saw I thought Nardiello was unlucky not to get the penalty, maybe his theatrics were the reason why he didn’t get anything
Minutes later Nardiello went down in the box again after running out of space to put a shot in, this time there was no sign of a touch on him, very lucky not to get booked.
Michael Clegg made a run forward midway through the half, he ran with purpose and struck a strong shot that went just wide, Michael has never scored for the first team since he arrived, most of his efforts are decent but just miss the target, it will come someday.
Nardiello who was being a right pain to the
Barnsley goalkeeper Marlon Beresford made a fantastic double save first from Scott Vernon and then from Chris Killen who could have maybe have made Beresford work harder for his save.
With half an hour gone Antony Kay flew in a low cross across the face of goal without getting the finish it deserve, the Latics escaped from this chance.
A mistake by Dean Holden let Nardiello in to run at goal but Holden made amends and superbly tackled him to concede a corner. The first corner was headed back out for another corner by Darren Sheridan, the next corner was flung in and Nardiello managed to force his head at the ball under heavy challenging to put
More bad news was to follow as Killen went down after a struggle with a
The whistle went for the first half.
Before the game restarted John Eyre was taken off and replaced by Danny Boshell, not sure whether it was for injury or for tactical reasons were unknown.
With a renewed sense of confidence
Pogliacomi wasn’t looking too confident as the game went on. He was making silly mistakes, not going for balls going into the area, miskicking, his body language showed he was very uncomfortable.
Nardiello hit a hopeful shot into the side netting on 76 minutes.
The Tykes brought on Jacob Burns on 12 minutes from time as Mark Stallard made his way off, Burns introduction almost proved a superb decision as Burns himself struck a superb strike which Pogliacomi did well to save.
Scott Vernon had the last chance of the game, he just sent a header just wide of goal from a Dean Holden cross.