Wigan 1 Barnsley 4 - match analysis: Reds seal playoff spot in style

The Reds will now face Walsall in the first-leg of the play-off semi-finals next Saturday evening after the Saddlers hammered Port Vale to confirm their third-placed finish.Barnsley were simply irresistable. They came from behind to comprehensively thump the hosts, who saw Chris McCann sent off late on.The Latics continued with their promotion celebrations of course, but for Reds' caretaker boss Paul Hckingbottom, now it's time for preparing his players once again following an afternoon he will clearly cherish for quite some time.Heckingbottom said: 'In terms of performances since I've been in charge that has to be right up there. It was certainly my favourite.'It wasn't just just the result and the occasion, it was the way the lads carried instructions out as an all-round thing.'We have to take confidence from that now. Wigan showed why they've been crowned champions early on but as soon as we got back to our game-plan, we got the rewards. Once we got in front we knew we'd be able to sit back a little with two banks of four and be in control when we had the ball.'It's just a massive confidence-booster for us going into next weekend now.'It'll be tough as Walsall enjoyed a big win and played well themselves, but as long as we prepare right, hopefully we ca get back to Wembley for the play-off final.' Heckingbottomfielded an unchanged team for the third consecutive time. Fit again was o the bench, but the line-up looked capable of spoiling Wigan's title-winning party.The Latics recalled goalkeeper Lee Nicholls, defender Jason Peace and front-man Yanic Wildschut. Former Reds midfielder David Perkins started with Reece Wabara a sub. Wigan opened the scoring after 10 minutes with the first chance. Yanic Wildschut did well to beat Josh Scowen down the left before crossing and ass Alfie Mawson tried and failed to make a clearance just six yards from goal, newly-crowned League One player-of-the-month Will Grigg lashed past Adam Davies clinically from close range.The Reds were up against it, with McCann