Bolton 2-3 Barnsley (agg 5-4): Trotters close in on Championship return after five years away as they survive late fightback to book play-off final spot
- Bolton scored twice just before half-time to create a three-goal buffer
- But Barnsley came back to within one goal on Tuesday evening after forcing extra time
- Another nightmare… which players are to blame and should Thomas Tuchel come in? Listen to the It all starts! Man United Crisis Special podcast
It’s been five years since Bolton Wanderers last played Championship football and now under manager Ian Evatt they are one win away from a return to the second tier, but only after surviving against an inspired Barnsley side.
Bolton will take on either Peterborough or Oxford in the League One Play-off final at Wembley next Saturday.
Interim boss Martin Devaney had called on his Barnsley side to take inspiration from Sheffield Wednesday’s comeback against Peterborough last season, although they had gone winless in the previous seven and it was always going to be a difficult task to make a comeback. to reverse a two-goal deficit against the team. with the best home record in the division.
But when Sam Cosgrove headed in to give the visitors the lead, the comeback had begun.
Bolton hit back with two goals in three minutes before half-time for all, but put the equalizer to bed when Aaron Collins smashed one in from long range before Eoin Toal’s header sent the 20,000-plus Bolton fans into ecstasy.
Bolton striker Aaron Collins smashed one in from long range in the 43rd minute
Eoin Toal nodded in from a corner just before half-time and created a three-goal cushion
Barnsley leveled through Adam Phillips in the 64th minute that evening and with 15 minutes to go Cosgrove pulled one back to set up a nerve-wracking finish, but Evatt’s side held on.