Wigan Athletic v Barnsley Betting Tips: Visitors a good price to come out on top

This match sees two teams who were promoted last season go head-to-head as relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic host Barnsley, who are safe in mid-table after their play-off push faltered.

Wigan managed to pull a result out of the bag at the weekend in what was probably their most important match of the season as they beat already-relegated Rotherham United 3-2 thanks to a very late winner from Nick Powell. Unfortunately though, with seven points still between themselves and safety, Wigan look doomed.

Everybody knows that goals have been the main problem for the Lactics this campaign and they are the joint-lowest scorers in the division. Their three goals against Rotherham on Saturday was the first time they had scored three goals in a match in any competition since 20th August 2016. Defending was something that Wigan were relatively good at this season but it now seems that even that is going out of the window after conceding more than one goal in each of their last four and no clean sheets in their last five.

Saturday’s win against Rotherham was Wigan’s first home victory since 21st January. This result will of course give them confidence going back to the DW Stadium on Thursday, however, they will face far more difficult opposition in their three remaining home games.

Barnsley have been on the beach for a considerable amount of time now after their quest for promotion failed. However, they did manage to secure a victory at relegation candidates Blackburn Rovers last time out – their first win in eight.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side have lost the attacking edge they posed in the early part of the season and their two goals against Blackburn at the weekend was the first time they had scored two goals in a match since Valentine’s Day. However, defensively, they have not let up and their relatively good record is still intact. Barnsley have kept two clean sheets in their last two matches and have only conceded three in their last five.

That win at Blackburn was the first time the Tykes had taken any points from an away match in three attempts. Overall though, most of Barnsley’s good season has been based on their away form and they have taken 29 points from 20 games – the fifth best in the league.

The bookmakers have made Wigan the favourites here which shows they believe that the home side will have taken confidence from that win against Rotherham last weekend. We can also deduce from this price that they think that Barnsley aren’t bothering too much. However, given Barnsley’s recent win and their away record in general, plus the fact that the pressure if off for them, they could surprise a few and take all three points against a relegation candidate.

57/20 about an away win looks far too big here. After all, Wigan aren’t exactly a strong side and could easily succumb to the pressure.

Click here to read Thursday’s League One tip.