Barnsley Football Club began the competitive season with a hard-fought victory as they progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup after a 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Wigan Athletic at Oakwell.
The tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes in Daniel Stendel’s first match back in charge of the Reds. Wigan took the lead in the 40th minute when Dara Costelloe tapped home from close range following a cross from James Carragher. Barnsley levelled nine minutes from time as captain Cameron McGeehan rifled in a low finish from a Reyes Cleary cross.
Wigan thought they had snatched a late winner in stoppage time through K’Marni Miller, but the goal was ruled out for offside. That decision sent the contest to penalties, where both sides converted their first five kicks. Jon Mellish then saw his effort saved by the knee of young goalkeeper Rogan Ravenhill, allowing Josh Earl to step up and convert the decisive sixth penalty for Barnsley.
Ravenhill, a 20-year-old academy graduate and lifelong Barnsley supporter, was making his senior debut after Cieran Slicker was unavailable through injury. The goalkeeper produced several important saves during normal time and was named player of the match for his performance. He later described the occasion as a dream come true after years of watching from the stands.
Stendel, who returned to Oakwell on a two-year deal earlier in the summer after previously leading the club to promotion, acknowledged that the first-half display had not been ideal. He praised the improved second-half effort and highlighted Ravenhill’s contribution, saying the young keeper had delivered a great performance under pressure.
The result provides an early boost for the Reds as they prepare for the opening of the League One campaign. Barnsley host Bromley next Saturday in their first league fixture of the 2026-27 season. Stendel has been rebuilding the squad with several new arrivals, including McGeehan, who made an immediate impact on his return to the club by scoring the equaliser and captaining the side.
Pre-season had ended on a positive note with a 3-0 friendly win over Lincoln City, and today’s cup progress maintains momentum. Cleary continued to show his quality with the assist for the leveller, while other summer signings featured as Stendel continues to shape his preferred style of play.
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell felt his side had dominated for long periods and deserved to go through, pointing to missed chances and a disallowed late goal. He accepted that failing to kill the game off earlier had cost them.
For Barnsley supporters the evening brought a familiar mix of tension and relief. A competitive opening cup tie settled by a local academy product offered an encouraging start under the returning head coach. Attention now turns to the league, where Stendel will look to translate this early success into consistent results in League One.
The Reds will discover their second-round opponents in the next draw, while the focus at Oakwell remains on building cohesion within a refreshed squad ahead of the domestic season.