Reds keep 4th straight away league clean sheet in battling point at Bolton
A FOURTH consecutive clean sheet away from home and a gritty performance by Michael Duff’s side was enough to secure a point against another promotion hopeful.
Tempers threatened to boil over on a number of occasions during the game, but a resilient Reds team managed to earn a point against tough opposition.
Barnsley head coach Duff made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 at home to Exeter last time out – as both Ziyad Larkeche and Tom Edwards made the starting 11.
Edwards replaced an injured Jordan Williams who was already an injury doubt for Saturday’s game.
The last time Barnsley faced Bolton Wanderers the match finished with the same scoreline – though Markus Schopp’s side then lost on penalties.
In the League Cup game last year, striker George Miller played at right-wing-back for the Reds but his replacement this time out was infinitely more impressive.
Before the match got underway, Barnsley were one place higher then their opponents – but only on goal difference.
That’s perhaps why the Reds gave Ian Evatt’s side so much respect.
Saturday was the first time Barnsley had played a side away that had lost at home this season, but the Trotters have the second best defensive record in the entirety of the football league.
The away side almost grabbed the opener just a minute into the game, but Brad Collins did well to turn the ball away for a corner after a James Norwood mistake.
The first real chance of the game fell to Bolton, when Jack Iredale’s cross was missed by Collins – but fortunately neither of the home side’s strikers could get onto the end of it.
Both Norwood and Larkeche were booked in the space of five minutes midway through the first half.
The latter was lucky to stay on the pitch as he was the last man when pulling down a Bolton forward. It was Norwood’s fifth booking of the season, meaning he’ll miss the trip to Morecambe tomorrow.
Duff said after the game the majority of his bookings this season were due to him ‘chasing his tail’ because of his lack of fitness.
The foul resulted in a fierce Dapo Afolayan freekick, but it went high and wide of Collins in the Barnsley net.
The Reds then thought they had taken the lead when Norwood chipped the ball into the Bolton net
– but he was adjudged to have been offside.
Ten minutes later and Devante Cole skipped past three or four Bolton players before being pulled down by a defender – but the referee gave nothing.
Referee David Rock, whose decisions were lambasted by both sides, must have thought he was competing in his namesake’s world of WWE as he waved away numerous blatant fouls – many of which would have looked at home at the ongoing Rugby League World Cup.
Two minutes before half-time, Bolton should have taken the lead.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson somehow failed to turn the ball home from close range when it looked harder to miss.
After the break, it was clear Duff’s half-time team talk had been effective, with the Reds pressing harder up the pitch and retaining the ball much better.
Eight minutes into the second half and the Reds came close to taking the lead.
Luca Connell shot from range as he saw ‘keeper James Trafford off his line – but it sailed over the bar. Norwood, who was free through the middle, was screaming for the ball.
Dion Charles then somehow missed an open goal from two yards out – it was another huge let off for the Reds defence who had been testing their luck all game.
Kyle Dempsey came on for the home side in the 67th minute and was booked seconds later for a foul 30 yards out.
Josh Benson took the free-kick and, after lining up the ball for a solid minute, his tame effort rolled wide of the Bolton goal.
It was the story of the game as the match ended up turning into a scrappy affair.
Ex-Bolton player Connell was booed from three sides of the stadium but received a standing ovation from the Reds fans as he slowly walked off the pitch – and soaked in the home support’s reaction.
It revived memories of Malik Wilks strolling off the pitch against Fulham under Daniel Stendel – which was also well received by Barnsley’s faithful.
Connell is the type of player Oakwell has been missing since the departure of former captain Alex Mowatt.
He went for every 50/50 challenge – and every 70/30 – and is never afraid to get stuck in.
If the Reds are to have a strong campaign this season in League One, he’ll most likely have to be on top form every week.
Barnsley’s best chance of the game came with just three minutes remaining.
Nicky Cadden floated a superb ball in, and found Norwood free in the box – but his header was just over the bar.
It’s the type of chance you’d expect the experienced forward to bury, but it just wasn’t his day in front of goal.
The game ended 0-0 and it was a hard-earned point for Duff’s side.
After the game, the Bolton boss said Barnsley slowing the play down was a ‘compliment’ to his side – but Duff said it was the poor refereeing decisions which broke the game up.
All in all, it was a gutsy performance from the Reds and it shows they can put the hard yards in against their promotion rivals this season.
Duff has already surpassed the number of games Schopp was given – and there’s no doubting the team, and the club, are in a much better position now.
Barnsley (3-4-2-1): Collins 7; Edwards 7, Kitching 7, Andersen 7, Cundy 7, Larkeche 5 (Cadden
45), Benson 5 (Kane 81), Connell 7 (Phillips 81), Aitchison 6 (Martin 66), Norwood 6, Cole 6.
Unused: Walton, Moon, Jalo.
Bookings: Norwood (24), Larkeche (27).
Bolton (3-4-1-2): Trafford; Jones, Williams (Morley 84), Santos, Johnston, Bradley, Thomason (Dempsey 69), Iredale (Kachunga 84), Afolayan, Bodvarsson (Bakayoko 76), Charles (Sadlier 75).
Unused: Sheehan, Lee.
Bookings: Dempsey (70), Bradley (87).
Attendance: 18,415 (1,767 Barnsley fans).
Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire).