Barnsley will meet their fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley for the final place in the Championship after overcoming Bolton Wanderers and earning a first Oakwell victory against the Trotters in 25 years to boot.
It is the first time the League One showpiece has been contested by the two teams which finished directly below the automatic promotion places in third and fourth since 2017-2018 when fourth placed Rotherham triumphed over third placed Shrewsbury.
Barnsley advanced by winning a play-off semi-final second leg for the third time in five play-off campaigns however this was only the second time they have won the home leg – also defeating Walsall 3-0 in 2016.
Barnsley will head to Wembley for a showpiece game in an odd numbered year for the first time – since the turn of the century the Reds have bizarrely travelled to the home of football every eight years – once in 2000, once in 2008 and twice in 2016 (it should be noted they also played there against Tottenham in 2017 however Spurs were playing their home matches at Wembley that season) – the Reds fall just short of that eight year target this time around with 2023 being seven years since the last visit.
Barnsley kept a clean sheet for only the third time in 11 play-off matches – also the away leg v Birmingham in 2000 and home leg v Walsall in 2016.
Barnsley are now unbeaten in 31 league matches when opening the scoring (W27 D4) last losing from a 1-0 lead in the final home game of 2021-2022 against Preston (1-3)
This was the ninth play-off match in which Barnsley have opened the scoring (from a total of 13) – they have now gone on to win seven of those games (only failing to do so in the first leg v Bolton and the final in 2000 when they lost 4-2 to Ipswich)
This was Barnsley’s 32nd win of 2022-2023 (27 in the league, 1 in the League Cup, 2 in the FA Cup and two in the Papa Johns Trophy) their most ever in a single season.
Liam Kitching grabbed the all important goal to send the Reds to Wembley, his fifth goal of the season and the Reds are unbeaten in all five games (W3 D2)
Kitching is only the second defender to score a play-off goal for Barnsley after Paul Reid at Huddersfield in 2006.
He is also only the third Barnsley player to score a play-off goal at Oakwell following Bruce Dyer against Birmingham and Sam Winnall against Walsall.
Barnsley have now reached the play-off final in all three play-off campaigns in the third tier, indeed they have reached the final in four of their five attempts at any level, only failing in the Championship in 2020-2021.
A total of one goal conceded is The Reds joint best defensive record in play-off semi-finals and has occurred in two of their five campaigns (also v Walsall in 2016)
This was also the second time Barnsley have won a play-off semi-final second leg on the 19th May – also doing so v Walsall on the 19th May 2016.
This is the first play-off campaign in which Barnsley have finished with a win/draw record after the semi-finals (W/L in 2000, L/W in 2006, W/W in 2016 and L/D in 2021)
Kitching’s goal was set up by a fine cross from Luca Connell, his ninth assist of the season – the most of any Reds player in 2022-2023, one ahead of Jordan Williams and Adam Phillips.
This was the FIFTH time Barnsley and Bolton have met this season and was Barnsley’s second victory – The Trotters took four points off the Reds in the league whilst Barnsley knocked them out of the FA Cup in November.
Indeed this was only Barnsley’s second victory in 18 meetings with Bolton which have both come this season.
It is the Reds first victory in any league competition in 17 meetings since a 2-1 Premier League victory at Oakwell in August 1997 (D9 L7)
It is the first Barnsley victory against Bolton in EFL competition since a 3-0 victory at Oakwell in November 1994.
Bolton had 67% possession in the game, the joint most by any league opponent this season (also Ipswich at Portman Road), only Leeds in the EFL Cup with 71% have had more.
There were only 17 shots in the game, the lowest in 13 Barnsley matches since Wycombe away in March (also 17)
There has been six shots on target in both play-off legs and also 18 fouls in both.
Barnsley Team:
1. Harry Isted
12. Bobby Thomas
6. Mads Andersen (c)
5. Liam Kitching
2. Jordan Williams
30. Adam Phillips
48. Luca Connell
8. Herbie Kane
7. Nicky Cadden
31. Slobodan Tedic
44. Devante Cole
Substitutes:
9. James Norwood (for Tedic 65)
3. Jon Russell (for Connell 84)
10. Josh Benson (for Phillips 85)
16. Luke Thomas (for Cole 87)
Unused Substitutes:
17. Barry Cotter, 40. Brad Collins, 47. Max Watters.
Bolton Team:
19. James Trafford
18. Eoin Toal
5. Ricardo Santos (c)
6. George Johnston
21. Conor Bradley
25. George Thomason
16. Aaron Morley
27. Randell Williams
22. Kyle Dempsey
11. Dan N'Lundulu
10. Dion Charles
Substitutions:
24. Elias Kachunga (for Thomason 67)
29. Victor Adeboyejo (for N’Lundulu 67)
3. Declan John (for Williams 73)
8. Josh Sheehan (for Dempsey 73)
35. Cameron Jerome (for Morley 85)
Unused Substitutes:
4. MJ Williams, 12. Joel Dixon.
Match Reports:
Official Website
BBC
Sky Sports
Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg Results:
THURSDAY 18TH MAY 2023:
Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 Peterborough United (aggregate 5-5)
Smith pen 9
Gregory 25
James 71
Palmer 90+8
Gregory og 105
Paterson 112
Sheffield Wednesday win 5-3 on penalties
FRIDAY 19TH MAY 2022:
BARNSLEY 1-0 Bolton Wanderers (aggregate 2-1)
Kitching 24