Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League One clash between Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Bolton Wanderers will welcome Barnsley to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for Tuesday’s second leg of their League One playoff semi-final.
The Trotters will take a two-goal cushion in the home leg after claiming a 3-1 victory in Friday’s clash at Oakwell.
Match preview
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After losing to Barnsley in last season’s playoff semi-finals, Bolton are on the brink of exacting revenge after establishing a crucial two-goal lead in the first leg.
Dion Charles scored on either side of half time to Bolton in the driving seat, before Sam Cosgrove came off the bench to pull a goal back for Barnsley.
However, Randell Williams retired his side’s two-goal cushion in sensational circumstances, scoring directly from a corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The win helped Ian Evatt‘s side extend their overall unbeaten run to eight matches, and they will now return to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, where they have avoided defeat in each of their last 12 home games since losing to Bristol Rovers in December.
If they can avoid another loss on Tuesday, the Trotters will advance to Wembley to face Oxford United or Peterborough United, with the chance to return to the Championship for the first time in five years.
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Barnsley will have to mount an almighty turnaround if they are to book their place in the playoff final for the second straight season.
Despite being in the playoffs, the Tykes are currently experiencing a tumultuous period after Neill Collins was sacked earlier this month following a run of just two wins in 11 matches.
Unfortunately for Barnsley, interim boss Martin Devaney has been unable to spark an upturn in fortunes, drawing 1-1 with Northampton on the final day of the regular season, before suffering a defeat in Friday’s first leg.
Barnsley’s hopes of staging a second-leg fightback will be tempered by the fact they have lost their last four away matches, conceding 10 goals during that disappointing spell of results.
The visitors will at least fancy their chances of troubling the scorers after finding the net in each of their previous 15 away league games, netting a minimum of two goals in 10 of those encounters.
Bolton Wanderers League One form:
Barnsley League One form:
Team News
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Bolton have reported no fresh injury corners, but remain without Carlos Mendes Gomes and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson due to Achilles and ankle injuries respectively.
After seeing his side prevail in the first leg, Evatt may opt for consistency and stick with the same lineup for Tuesday’s home fixture.
Victor Adeboyejo will provide Evatt with a useful option off the bench after returning from a spell on the sidelines to feature as a late substitute at Oakwell.
Barnsley are still unable to call upon the American defender Donovan Pines, who was ruled out for the season after sustaining a thigh injury in March’s league fixture against Bolton.
Robbie Cundy and Josh Benson have both returned to training following an extended spell on the sidelines, but the pair are unlikely to be involved due to their lack of game time.
Conor Grant and Sam Cosgrove could be considered for starting berths after the two substitutes combined to score Barnsley’s only goal in the first leg.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Jones, Santos, Toal; Dacres-Cogley, Maghoma, Sheehan, Thomason, Williams; Charles, Collins
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Williams, De Gevigney, Earl; O’Keeffe, Phillips, Connell, Grant, Cadden; McAtee, Cosgrove
We say: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Barnsley
Barnsley will have to take risks to have any hope of mounting a comeback, but we think that could play into Bolton’s hands, which is why we believe the hosts will add to their two-goal cushion and book their place in the final.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.