Hard fought point secured at Bolton

The Reds were once again on their travels this week, and were heading once again over the Pennines to Bolton Wanderers. Michael Duff’s men will be looking to right the wrongs of last week, where they were thoroughly disappointing at home to Exeter City.

From the start, it was clear to see that Duff was taking a different approach, and the tactics seemed very negative and direct. The tempo was set inside two minutes, when Brad Collins produced a good save to deny the Lancastrians early on.

Bolton pressured the Tykes, and despite managing to stay firm and holt most of the Trotter's attacks Barnsley offered very little themselves. The Reds were playing the villains of the peace, with former Bolton school-boy Luca Connell showing no mercy, and getting ‘stuck in’. Connell was to be Barnsley’s brightest spark in the first half, with the physicality of the Bolton midfield not projecting any remanence of fear into the young Irishman.

Barnsley continued to hoof the ball up the field and optimistically hope for James Norwood or Devante Cole to win the header. On the occasions that the Tykes did win the ball, Jack Aitchison couldn’t deal with the physicality of the Bolton midfield and the ball would be lost. Something had to change, and with half an hour gone, Duff seemed to command the Tykes to settle with the ball. It didn’t change much, either through poor officiating or a lack of attacking numbers stuttering any Barnsley threat.

The standard of officiating seemed to shadow the entire first-half, and Barnsley fans were vocal of their dislike towards the referee on social media and in the away end. Duff’s men couldn’t be dragged into that game however, despite Bolton having the better of the first half, if Barnsley showed more courage and risk to go for the jugular, I am certain they will produce something from this game.

HALF-TIME BOLTON 0-0 BARNSLEY

A gritty first half from the Reds, Duff looks to be going for a point, I would personally like to see more attacking emphasis in the second half as Bolton look there for the taking.

Connell registered our first shot of the game on 52 minutes, after he won the ball back deep in the Bolton half, Norwood looked to be in on goal, but Connell tried to lob the goalkeeper from 30 yards, and unfortunately put it high of the target. The Reds once again went back to long ball and playing deep.

Despite the Tykes defending resolutely, Bolton should’ve opened the scoring on 63 minutes when a wide man fizzed the ball across goal. Collins managed to get a fingertip on it, but could only direct it into the knee of Dion Charles who somehow found the wrong side of the post from 3 yards out. A lucky break from the Reds, and my personal frustration is increasing at a lack of courage to take the game to the Trotters.

The game had a sense of anger, and tempers were raised when Barnsley seemed to slow the game down as we approached 80 minutes. Cadden brought down a loose ball, and put in an early cross to James Norwood, who did brilliantly to get in between two Bolton defenders, but could only divert his header over the bar. The best chance for Barnsley goes begging, late on.

FULL-TIME BOLTON 0-0 BARNSLEY

Whichever side you argue for, there’s no denying it’s a hard-fought point in Lancashire for Barnsley. They defended well, managed the game well and ultimately forced Bolton into a lot of errors and only two clear chances on goal.

I trust Michael Duff, and if he believes settling for a point is better than risking going for three, I support that decision. Barnsley are yet to be turned over by one of the ‘big boys’ in League One this season. Next week we complete our hat-trick of Lancashire away days and travel to take on Morecambe. A win is vital if we are to back up a smart-showing at the University of Bolton Stadium.