Luke's Football blog

Bolton came into this game as favourites with them just missing out on automatics by a few points and with them on good form and looking for revenge from last year’s playoff semi-final heartbreak to the same opposition. Ian Evatt is an experienced coach, and he will look to build on this amazing form currently as his side try to reach the championship for the first time since 2019.

Barnsley came into this game on poor form and almost missing out on the playoffs. They currently don’t have a manager, with interim coach Martin Devaney taking charge of this playoff campaign after Neil Collins got sacked after a poor run of games. They come into this game as the underdogs, so they need to make sure Oakwell is rocking as the famous atmosphere will help pull them through the first leg.

Both teams started off a bit shaky as none of them have managed to keep the ball well, however it’s Barnsley who have been dominating as they have been attacking the Bolton half, but they have not created anything of note so far, as Bolton have managed to deal with the constant pressure well. Bolton, have not managed to string up a few passes, which has been the main reason they have struggled so far.

Barnsley managed to get the first yellow card of the game as Phillips slid in with a two-footed lunge to get to the ball, and he was lucky not to escape with further punishment as it was a nasty challenge that was borderline red card territory.

It was a bit of a scruffy game with not many chances created, however it would be the favourites who would take the lead as Maghoma laid it on a plate for Bolton’s talisman, Dion Charles, who tucked it away from a few yards out for his nineteenth goal of the season to give his side the edge so far in the game.

Barnsley were dominating in the opposition half but conceding that goal has taken the sting out of them, and they will need to come up with something soon as it could get even worse for the home side, as Bolton seem to be growing in confidence in this game as their frontline are putting pressure on the Barnsley defence.

Barnsley are trying their best to break back however, chances have come few and far for the home side as Bolton are looking the more comfortable side after coming through the first 20 minutes of pressure at the start of the game, they came to life after that goal and are now looking the better side. Barnsley will need to improve this second half if they want to get something out of this game as they look a bit lackluster in attack as they haven’t created any good chances, so they will need to improve that aspect of the game.

Barnsley started the brightest in the second half with them almost getting a break through as Santos was caught napping, however he managed to recover in time to make sure nothing came out of it and soon his side would get another breakthrough, as a defensive mix-up by the home side with Sheehan making the most of and winning a penalty as Liam Roberts fouled him inside the box. Dion Charles calmly tucked it away with Roberts getting a hand on it, but the power of the shot evaded him and now Bolton have a two-goal cushion in the first leg, and it was soon a third, as the ball went into the net off Josh Earl, but the ref blew for a foul before it went into the goal sparing the blushes for the Barnsley defender.

It was looking like it would be a third goal for Bolton as they were pushing up the pitch and creating some more chances, but it would be Barnsley who would get themselves a lifeline as the substitute Sam Cosgrove latched in his fourth goal of the season, to give his team a chance in this game currently as it seemed out of reach in this second half as Bolton were the more likely to score so that goal may have saved his side this game.

Barnsley looked like they were about to get an equalizer with some dangerous set pieces, however they were dealt with comfortably by Bolton and soon in stoppage time they would get their two-goal cushion back, as Williams scored straight from the in swinging corner to give the edge back to his side. This is a killer blow for the home side as they looked like they were going to get an equalizer but that has killed their momentum, and they will have a mountain to climb in the second leg.

It’s a good win for Bolton as they will take this result back to the University of Bolton stadium where they will have the confidence of their supporters after an amazing performance in the first leg which will surely give them confidence that they will make it to Wembley in a few weeks’ time. 

For Barnsley, it’s a huge blow as they would’ve wanted something from this game, especially at home in front of their fans. Some of them will think the tie is over because they have a mountain to climb away from home. They will need something massive to happen for them to go through on Tuesday, but I feel its Bolton who will be going through to the playoff final.