BARNSLEY 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
What a contrast to the scintillating show three days earlier against Notts County as Latics failed to show up at Barnsley.
It was a disappointing night as Latics missed on the chance to move into the play-off places in Sky Bet League One.
Kane Hemmings struck the decisive goal early in the match, and there was no was back for lack-lustre Latics who had loan signings Jacob Mellis and Conor Wilkinson on the bench.
Jonathan Forte and Mike Jones had early chances for Latics without seriously looking like scoring.
Barnsley showed how it should be done as they took a 12th minute lead from their first serious attack of the game as Hemmings fired home past Jake Kean following a cross from Milan Lalkovic.
Latics responded positively forcing a series of corners without seriously looking finding a leveller.
Dominic Poleon and top scorer Jonathan Forte had chances either side of the break, but neither came to anything as Latics lacked a killer touch in front of goal.
Latics threw on former Barnsley player Mellis, to a chorus of jeers, and Wilkinson as they looked for new ideas which had been sadly lacking.
They livened Latics, though an equalising goal remained elusive as Carl Winchester shot straight at keeper Ross Turnbull and George Elokobi fired over.
Barnsley would have added a second goal but for a last-ditch tackle from James Wilson to thwart Tykes’ top scorer Conor Hourihane who bore down on goal.
Latics struggled to create meaningful chances, though there best of the night fell in stoppage time when Brian Wilson’s cross found Forte free in the middle, but he was late down by poor control and that proved to be the last opportunity for them to get something from the game.