Wigan Athletic host Barnsley at The DW Stadium on November 14, 2026, in a League One meeting between two sides near the bottom of the table. Wigan are 21st with 11 points, while 23rd-placed Barnsley have nine points and two games in hand. A home win would give Wigan breathing room over their visitors; a Barnsley victory would take the away side above them. The recent head-to-head record suggests a close contest: eight of their last 10 meetings ended in draws, including a 1-1 result on August 8. Yet both teams arrive after cup wins, and Barnsley’s run of matches with goals at both ends gives this fixture a compelling attacking angle.

Wigan Athletic’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Wigan Athletic enter the match unbeaten in four games. They followed a 3-0 FA Cup win over Boreham Wood with a 2-1 EFL Trophy victory against Crewe Alexandra on November 10. Their last two league matches brought four points, leaving them one point below safety. Across their most recent five matches in all competitions, Wigan have recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat, scoring an average of 1.6 goals and conceding 1.2 per game.

The wider League One record is less encouraging: three wins, two draws and nine defeats, with averages of 0.8 goals scored and 1.6 conceded. That contrast makes their recent improvement significant, but it also shows why they still have work to do. A meeting with a team just two points behind them offers an opportunity to turn their better run into a valuable league result.

There is also a notable pattern in the timing of goals in Wigan’s matches. At least one team was scoreless at half-time in 29 of their last 31 games, while 19 of their last 21 featured a goal after the interval. Those figures do not determine how this match will unfold, but they suggest that the second half has often been important in Wigan fixtures.

Barnsley’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Barnsley arrive after beating Oldham Athletic 5-2 on November 11. They also defeated Aldershot 7-2 in the FA Cup, a result that ended an 11-match winless run. Across their last five matches, Barnsley have two wins, one draw and two defeats, averaging 3.0 goals scored and 1.8 conceded. Those attacking numbers stand out, although their League One results have yet to show a comparable turnaround.

In the league, Barnsley have gone eight consecutive matches without a win, losing six of them. They are also winless in five away outings, with defeats in each of the last four. Their season record in League One stands at two wins, three draws and seven losses; they have averaged 1.0 goal scored and 1.8 conceded per match. With two games in hand over Wigan, they have a route to improving their position, but an immediate result would put them ahead of their hosts.

Goals have been a consistent feature of Barnsley’s recent fixtures. Their last 16 matches all contained at least two goals, and Barnsley have conceded in every one of those games. Both teams scored in each of their last 11 matches, while their last 10 League One fixtures all produced more than 1.5 goals. A second-half goal also featured in each of those 10 league games. Barnsley’s matches have generated plenty of corners, too: each of their last 10 League One fixtures had more than 10.5.

Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley Match Analysis

Wigan have the stronger recent run and the home advantage, but Barnsley’s two latest wins show why the visitors cannot be judged solely by their league position. The contrast between Barnsley’s cup scoring and their eight-match league winless streak is central to this preview: they have shown they can score freely, yet have struggled to convert that threat into League One victories.

The head-to-head record provides a reason for caution over separating the sides. As well as the eight draws in their last 10 meetings, Wigan’s recorded summary of the most recent five is one win and four draws, with an average of 1.0 goal scored and 0.8 conceded. Their latest encounter finished 1-1. That history points to a competitive fixture rather than a clear advantage based on previous meetings alone.

Recent scoring and conceding trends offer a different perspective. Barnsley’s 11 straight matches with goals for both teams, coupled with a 16-match run of conceding, make it difficult to overlook chances at either end. Wigan’s latest five-game spell has brought improved scoring, while their League One average of 1.6 goals conceded leaves room for Barnsley to contribute. Wigan’s form may give them confidence going into the match, but Barnsley’s attacking output means this League One clash could remain open even if the hosts start well.

Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (Yes) with 59% probability.