Barnsley 1-0 Bolton (2-1 agg): Liam Kitching’s header sends hosts to League One play-off final
Barnsley 1-0 Bolton (2-1 agg): Liam Kitching’s header sends Michael Duff’s side into the League One play-off final as they set up an all-Yorkshire affair against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley
- Kitching nodded from a free kick by Luca Connell in the first half of the match
- Bolton enjoyed the ball a lot, but struggled to create clear chances
- The game against Wednesday will undoubtedly be a heated affair with a lot at stake
This draw could never match the huge drama that unfolded ten miles down the M1 at Hillsborough on Thursday night, but Michael Duff’s Barnsley don’t care as they staged an all-Yorkshire play-off final at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday for a place in the championship.
For Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore, watching at Oakwell, Liam Kitching’s header in the first half was enough to split the sides in a pulsating affair that may have been goalless, but was full of chances for both sides.
Duff himself had been at the Etihad Stadium to watch Man City thrash Real Madrid before witnessing Wednesday’s miraculous comeback against Peterborough.
Duff kept his squad unchanged, while Bolton manager Ian Evatt made two changes, with Dan Nlundulu and George Thomason replacing Josh Sheehan and Elias Kachunga.
Both sides had early chances with Ricardo Santos making a last-ditch effort to deny Slobodan Tedic in the opening seconds after Bolton lost the ball in their own half before Dion Charles forced Barnsley’s Harry Isted to make an early save.
Liam Kitching’s header was the difference as Barnsley beat Bolton to reach the League One play-off final
Michael Duff’s side now face Sheffield Wednesday in the final in an all-Yorkshire affair
Delighted home fans celebrated full-time on Oakwell’s pitch after the win
It was end-to-end action from the start as Nlundulu put Isted to the test and Luca Connell, Liam Kitching and Herbie Kane all got saves from Josh Trafford in the first 20 minutes.
But Trafford could do nothing to deny Kitching as he headed in from close range after a delightful curling from Connell to put the home side ahead.
Ominously for Bolton, Barnsley had yet to lose all season in 35 games after scoring first and despite Evatt making all five changes and his side showing much more positivity in the second half, the visitors failed to get past Isted come.
The Barnsley goalkeeper was lucky after a back pass from his captain Mads Andersen into the penalty area, but Aaron Morley shot agonizingly over from the indirect free kick.
Duff has guided the Yorkshire side to the play-off final in their first year in the division after relegation last season
Dejected Bolton players returned to the dressing room after failing to break down their hosts
Adam Phillips rattled the woodwork with a stunning volley to almost put the game to bed, but the Tykes held on and will have a chance to return to the Championship after being relegated last season.
However, ahead of them are their local rivals who will surely believe that fate is on their side after one of the great comebacks.
“If you get beaten at Wembley, you’ve wasted three weeks of your holiday,” said Duff ahead of the game.
Whatever happens in a week on Monday when South Yorkshire descends on the capital will determine how much he and Barnsley will enjoy that holiday.