Colgan heroics in vain as Wigan Show class

A STRIKE by Jason Koumas and a penalty by Denny Landzaat gave Wigan the spoils after an entertaining clash at Oakwell.

Despite some bright things from the home side early on, it was the Premiership outfit who ought have taken the lead when Emile Heskey missed an absolute sitter from Jason Koumas' left wing corner on 14 minutes.

Barnsley's Istvan Ferenczi then combined wonderfully well with Miguel Mostto to free Rohan Ricketts a minute later and the winger brought the very best from Chris Kirkland with a fine drive from just inside the area.

Koumas then tried his luck from distance after popping up on the edge of the area on 25 minutes but his shot struck Johnson and bounced wide.

Barnsley went close on the half hour when Kirkland made a mess of Johnson's cross under pressure from Ferenczi but Mostto could not turn the ball into the net through a crowd of defenders.

Denny Landzaat then thought he had grabbed the opener on 34 minutes after he rifled Koumas' knock back goalward but found Nick Colgan in fine form.

The Irishman got down quickly to parry Landzaat's effort around the post.

Colgan then had his heart in his mouth in stoppage time as Landzaat smashed a shot goalward again and his effort clipped a defender before almost embarrassing the Reds keeper and flying an inch wide.

Nigerian striker Julius Agahowa showed a glimpse of his prodigious talent on 48 minutes as he danged his way past a couple of challenges and into the area before bringing a great low save from Colgan.

Mostto then drove a shot just over the top of Kirkland's bar on 50 minutes after a good break through midfield by Ferenczi.

Wigan grabbed the opening goal on 55 minutes after Colgan had performed wonders to turn the ball away from Agahowa's feet on the six yard line.

It was put back into the danger area by Antonio Valencia and Koumas was on hand to turn the ball into the net from ten yards.

Barnsley responded with Ferenczi turning provider to knock Ricketts' cross into the path of Brian Howard just a minute later, who volleyed wide of the target from the edge of the area.

It was the visitors who should have doubled their lead on 71 minutes as Agahowa again led the Barnsley defence a merry dance as he raced through on Colgan but found the Reds number one in fine form.

Colgan was once more called to make a top quality save on 73 minutes as he turned Valencia's thunderbolt of a shot over the bar.

Koumas had a great chance to double his goal tally on 78 minutes as he fired a free kick over the bar, only for referee Mathieson to award a penalty for a handball by skipper Brian Howard.

Landzaat beat Colgan from the spot as the 4,426 crowd looked on.

The Reds continued to probe though and substitute Martin Devaney then brought a decent stop from Kirkland on 81 minutes with a well-struck shot from 18 yards after decent build up play by Howard.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Nyatanga, Souza (Atkinson 84), Kozluk (Togwell 65), Johnson (Mattis 73), Mostto (Odejayi 60), Howard, McCann (Devaney 73), Ferenczi (Coulson 84), Ricketts, Werling.

Subs: Letheren.

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland, Melchiot, Kilbane, Scharner (Brown 73), Boyce, Hall (Bramble 45), Valencia, Landzaat, Heskey, Koumas, Agahowa.

Subs: Cotterill, Pollitt, Camara, Montrose, Granquist, Cwyka, Moore.

Goalscorers:

Koumas 55, Landzaat penalty 79, for Wigan.