Bolton vs Barnsley: In two encounters this season, the teams settled for a draw – 1:1 at Bolton's venue and 2:2 at the "Tykes" domain.

Bolton

Barnsley

Match Stats

"The Wanderers" have traversed a splendid season, meriting their culmination in third place within the First League. Across 46 fixtures, Bolton conceded defeat merely on nine occasions, securing the division's second-best performance behind Portsmouth. The disparity of five points ultimately separated them from the coveted second position, which guaranteed direct passage to the Championship. In the last five rounds of the regular season, Bolton clinched victory twice, with three draws. Regarding their home record, within their own fortress, "The Wanderers" stand as the preeminent entity in the League. In 23 encounters, Bolton secured triumph in 15 instances, suffering a mere three setbacks.

In contrast to their adversary, "The Tykes" notably faltered in the season's denouement, with their playoff participation hanging in the balance until the final round. Across the last five fixtures, Barnsley amassed a mere two points, courtesy of drawn encounters, while succumbing to defeat thrice. Ultimately, they outpaced their primary contender, Lincoln, by a mere two points. Had Lincoln faced a mid-table adversary in the final round rather than Portsmouth, it is plausible that Lincoln would have secured a playoff berth. Indeed, Barnsley's current form exhibited frailty, as evidenced in the initial encounter against Bolton.