Luke's Football blog

Bolton come into this game with a two-goal lead at Oakwell with Dion Charles in fine form for his side as they look to secure their place at Wembley and possible promotion to the Championship, where they haven’t been since 2019, and with a slender lead, it will take some stopping from their opponents to not make it a possibility.

Barnsley failed to capitalize on the home advantage, but that goal from Sam Cosgrove means that they aren’t out of it just yet, but it will take a lot to do if they want to force extra time or penalties or even win on aggregate as they will face the roaring Bolton support.

First Half and it was the home side who started off well with a few half chances from Toal and Thomasson, however it would be the away side who would be taking the lead, as Cosgrove, who scored in the first leg, got on the scoresheet again, as from a fine cross by McAtee Cosgrove headed home from close range to give Barnsley a chance and the perfect start in this game.

The fun was cut short for Barnsley, as Aaron Collins smashed home a shot from outside the box to restore the two-goal lead for his side and restore the confidence which was slowly sneaking away after conceding early on, and soon it would be the home side taking the lead as some poor defending from Barnsley at a set piece Erin Toal headed from close range to give Bolton the edge in the tie and surely that’s the goal to send them to Wembley. 

Second half and Barnsley were looking for the goal to give them a slim chance of taking it to extra time and penalties, and they kept knocking on the door till finally they found the answer, as in the 64th minute, Adam Phillips smashed home a shot to give Barnsley a bit of hope in this tie however it meant they needed to score two more goals to force extra time and penalties.

Soon later, they would get another goal as Sam Cosgrove would score again his second goal of the game, to put his team back in the tie with 14th minutes left to go and there is a high chance it could go to extra time and penalties as Barnsley were dominating the game.

Bolton managed to withstand the pressure with some good defending and soon enough they would get the job done and seal their place at Wembley, where they will look to get promoted to the Championship after being relegated back in 2019. 

It’s another season of League One football for Barnsley after coming close last year and reaching the playoffs this season, they will hope in the summer to find a good manager who will manage to get them over the line and into the championship after coming close in previous seasons.