Late drama helps neither side
ABREATHLESS, thrilling, mistake-ridden finale left both Championship relegation strugglers with decidedly mixed feelings.
Barnsley boss Jose Morais rued a controversial 82nd penalty awarded for a shirt pull by George Moncur that enabled Adam Le Fondre to cancel out Gary Gardner’s thumping opener.
But Bolton’s Phil Parkinson had much the same emotions after star striker Oliver McBurnie rescued a point deep into injury time after Craig Noone volleyed his side ahead.
It was his eighth goal in just 11 games.
The result maintained the precarious status quo with Barnsley two points behind their close rivals with a game in hand.
Nine bookings, a bust-up between McBurnie and Darren Pratley and penalties that were and weren’t awarded added to an afternoon that was always going to be full of tension.
Tykes boss Morais said: “I should be smiling from ear to ear after Olly’s goal, but I’m not because it was the equaliser rather than the winner.
“In my view it was not a penalty. I can see it within the rules but that happens a lot in English football.
“We were controlling the situation. It should be possible for us to win games 1-0 and that’s what I want to do in future.
“We did not need to lose our shape or patience.”
Barnsley held onto their lead until finally imploding in the face of a huge injection of second half tempo from Parkinson’s men.
Le Fondre had to wait a couple of minutes before sending Bolton’s travelling hordes into dreamland with a fierce penalty.
Then, after three games without a goal, a second followed just three minutes later when substitute Noone took full toll of fragile home defending.
Yet there was still time for the excellent McBurnie to nod in from point blank range to save Barnsley’s blushes.
In contrast, the first half was much less eventful.
A costly error by former Tykes guardian Ben Alnwick led to Barnsley’s opener. He misfielded Adam Hamill’s left wing corner and, after McBurnie’s nifty feet and shot produced a goalmouth melee, Gardner settled the argument in emphatic style with a fierce rising shot from 15 yards.
Bolton rarely looked dangerous although Adam Davies had to react smartly to beat away Sammy Ameobi’s 35th minute shot.
But all that changed after Parkinson introduced Will Buckley at the break.
Their tempo immediately increased immeasurably with chances created at both ends. Tykes skipper Andy Yiadom looked fortunate not to concede a spot kick when Ameobi’s shot struck his hand near the line in the 55th minute.
Yiadom then cleared David Wheater’s fierce header off the line before Kieffer Moore sent a headed chance over at the other end.
Bolton’s travelling fans were driving their side forward and with crosses regularly coming into the home box something had to give.
Parkinson said: “I’ve got mixed feelings. I’m delighted with the way we responded to going a goal down but very disappointed to concede so late in the game.
“Avoiding the drop after not spending a penny would be right up there in terms of our achievements.”