A more detailed look at today's 3pm kick-off at Bolton Wanderers. The 15th-placed Reds travel to the third-placed Trotters.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Barnsley (4-1-4-1): Goodman; O’Keeffe, O’Connell, Shepherd, Watson; Bland; Banks, Phillips, Kelly, Cleary; McGoldrick.
Bolton (4-2-3-1): Bonham; Christie, Toal, Johnston, Conway; Sheehan, Erhahon; Blackett-Taylor, McAtee, Apter; Dalby.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Injured: Josh Earl. Doubt: Luca Connell. Bolton: Injured: Amario Cozier-Duberry, Marcus Forss. Doubts: Josh Sheehan, Max Conway.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Marc Iles, Bolton News
Automatic promotion is the goal and, after a ropey Christmas and New Year, the club have brought in several new players to provide some fresh energy for the final push.
They include Celtic striker Johnny Kenny, Charlton’s Rob Apter and Derby County flyer Corey Blackett-Taylor, who scored on his debut.
Their home form has been excellent, even if games have often been played in a tense atmosphere to expectant supporters, who demand nothing but a win these days.
KEY PLAYER
John McAtee
For the first time in his Bolton career, the former Oakwell favourite is starting to look the part.
Wanderers knocked back loan offers for him in January – with Barnsley thought to be interested after a late move fell through in September – and he now looks fitter and sharper than at any time since he has been at the Toughsheet Stadium.
Bolton are still waiting for his ‘moment’ but knowing the unpredictable Macca it could very well turn up in a game like this.
He scored a late equaliser at Oakwell in August.
Brighton loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry, who had six goals and eight assists, is out injured for a couple of months.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Trotters 1, Reds 2 – December 26, 2024
Days after a 4-0 thrashing at home to Leyton Orient, the Reds gained their first league win at Bolton in 17 attempts. The hosts took the lead through Klaidi Lolos but Barnsley won it with goals in the 80th and 89th minutes. Davis Keillor-Dunn levelled then Adam Phillips finished off a clever set piece move.
Trotters 2, Reds 3 – May 7, 2024
Barnsley, having lost the first leg 3-1, almost achieved a remarkable comeback in the play-off semi-final. Sam Cosgrove, who should have won a penalty early on, gave the visitors the lead but Bolton scored twice right at the end of the first half through Aaron Collins and Eoin Toal. Adam Phillips levelled then Cosgrove made it 5-4 on aggregate but Barnsley could not force extra-time.
Trotters 1, Reds 0 – April 12, 2014
Chris O’Grady missed a late penalty as Barnsley slumped to the bottom of the Championship. O’Grady hit the post after Ryan McLaughlin was fouled by Alex Baptiste. Jermaine Beckford’s early goal defeated Danny Wilson’s Reds who would be relegated later that month.
Trotters 0, Reds 0 – December 27, 1971
Barnsley played well but their goalless run stretched to six matches and they would be relegated from Division Three at the end of the season.
