Soccer
Gary Caldwell felt Wigan deserved win after shoot-out loss at Barnsley
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell thought his side were “brilliant” and deserved to progress against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup after losing on penalties at Oakwell.
Dara Costelloe’s first-half goal looked to be enough to send Wigan through until Cameron McGeehan levelled nine minutes from time to send the tie to penalties.
K’Marni Miller thought he had won it for Wigan in the third minute of added on time but his goal was ruled out for offside – wrongly according to Caldwell.
The first 10 spot-kicks were scored before Jon Mellish’s effort was saved by the knee of Rogan Ravenhill and Josh Earl scored to make it 6-5 and send the Reds through.
Caldwell said: “I thought we were brilliant. We hit the post, the keeper makes some saves.
“So early in the season away from home, we totally dominated. The big lesson is you have to put the game to bed in that period and not give them any hope.”
On the disallowed goal he added: “He’s onside. We were ready to play the game today, but I felt the officials weren’t.”
Barnsley’s returning head coach Daniel Stendel was unhappy with the first half and urged his team to show more “courage” in the second.
He added: “I don’t think anybody in the stadium believed that after the first half (we would win).
“We’re not happy about the first half and I know we can play so much better.
“I said at half-time we need more courage in everything we do – more belief and more togetherness.”
