Barnsley were just four minutes away from winning their first three league games of a season for the first time in 29 years however a late equaliser from ex Reds loanee John McAtee meant the Reds had to settle for emulating their start from seven years ago when they also won their first two and drew the third in 2018-2019.
Coupled with the League Cup victory on penalties over Fleetwood on Wednesday Barnsley are unbeaten in their opening four games in all competitions for the first time since 1994-1995 when they won one and drew three of the opening four including both legs of a League Cup tie against Darlington.
It is the first time it has occurred against four different opponents since 1988-1989 when they were undefeated in the opening five (W1 D4) against Oldham, Swindon, Stoke, Hull and Chelsea all in the second tier.
The Reds took the lead through David McGoldrick who became the first Barnsley player to score in the opening two home league games of a season since Tom Bradshaw in 2017-2018.
The 100% start to the League One season was ended however by ex red McAtee who becomes the first former Barnsley player to score against them since Ashley Fletcher for Blackpool at Oakwell on the 8th March.
Barnsley have failed to keep a clean sheet in their first three league games of a season for the second successive year and are indeed currently on a run of 17 league games without a shutout, stretching back to February, their longest run without a shut-out since a run of 18 between 15th September 2019 and Boxing Day 2019 in the Championship.
This was Barnsley’s first match in six outings that at least one team hasn’t scored at least twice – a 1-1 draw with Peterborough on the 21st April was the last time it occurred with a total of 22 goals scored in the intervening games.
Vimal Yoganathan became the second Barnsley player to be shown a red card this season following Jack Shepherd on the opening day, the first time Barnsley have had two players sent off in their opening three league games since 2008-2009 when Marciano Van Homoet and Iain Hume were red carded in the opening two games.
Yoganathan is the first Barnsley midfielder to be red carded since Adam Phillips against Birmingham on the 7th December 2024.
Murphy Cooper has now received two yellow cards in the opening four matches - Ben Killip received two yellows in 2024-2025 as did Liam Roberts in 2023-2024 and Brad Collins in 2022-2023, no Barnsley goalkeeper has received more in a season since Collins was booked four times in 2021-2022.
Cooper received his yellow card against Bolton after 98 minutes (the same minute as he was booked on Wednesday against Fleetwood), one minute later than Neil Farrugia was booked, the first time Barnsley have received two yellow cards in injury time since Kelechi Nwakali (94) and Jon Russell (95) against Cambridge on the 22nd March.
Cooper’s yellow was the latest in a match since Luca Connell was booked after 99 minutes at Wycombe on the 28th January.
This was the first draw between Barnsley and Bolton in five meetings and ends Barnsley’s three match winning streak against the Trotters.
However four of the last nine meetings have been drawn and have all occurred in the last two years.
This was the first time in six meetings that at least one team didn’t score at least twice.
Excluding play-offs Barnsley have now won only one of the last 10 Oakwell meetings which was last season’s 4-1 triumph (W1 D5 L4)
Bolton attempted 17 shots, the most by an opponent at Oakwell since Blackpool had 18 on the 8th March.
Barnsley’s two shots on target is their lowest in the league at home since they managed only one against Stevenage on the 25th January.
Barnsley Team:
1. Murphy Cooper
30. Jonathan Bland
5. Jack Shepherd
32. Josh Earl
14. Nathanel Ogebta
7. Caylan Vickers
48. Luca Connell
8. Adam Phillips
45. Vimal Yoganathan
40. Davis Keillor-Dunn
10. David McGoldrick
Substitutes:
22. Patrick Kelly (for McGoldrick 57)
27. Tennai Watson (for Bland 74)
23. Neil Farrugia (for Phillips 87)
19. Reyes Cleary (for Vickers 87)
Unused Substitutes:
51. Kieran Flavell, 29. Connor Barratt, 3. Jon Russell.
Bolton Team:
1. Teddy Sharman-Lowe
18. Eoin Toal
6. George Johnston
2. Josh Dacres-Cogley
25. Max Conway
19. Mario Cozier-Duberry
17. Joel Randall
8. Josh Sheehan
11. Thierry Gale
4. Xavier Simons
48. Mason Burstow
Substitutions:
20. Ibrahim Cissoko (for Randall 63)
16. Aaron Morley (for Simons 64)
14. Jordi Osei-Tutu (for Dacres-Cogley 64)
45. John McAtee (for Gale 72)
21. Ethan Erhahon (for Conway 80)
Unused Substitutes:
27. Tyler Miller, 3.Chris Forino.
Sky Bet League One Results
Saturday 16th August 2025:
Burton Albion (12th) 0-0 Port Vale (19th)
Exeter City (15th) 1-2 Mansfield Town (16th)
Blake-Tracy 42
Magennis pen 76
Evans 86
BARNSLEY (3rd) 1-1 Bolton Wanderers (13th)
McGoldrick 47 McAtee 86
Blackpool (17th) 3-2 Huddersfield Town (7th)
Wiles 4
Ennis 13
Evans 18
Ennis 25
Gooch 31
Bradford City (6th) 2-1 Luton Town (9th)
Humphrys 33
Pointon 48
Kodua 86
Cardiff City (2nd) 3-0 Rotherham United (18th)
Salech 43
Ashford 55
Colwill 60
Doncaster Rovers (5th) 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers (20th)
Sharp 56
Quitirna 71
Leyton Orient (14th) 2-2 Stockport County (4th)
Lowe 29
Olowu 36
Connolly 59
O’Neill 90+3
Lincoln City (11th) 3-2 Plymouth Argyle (22nd)
Bayliss 6
Collins 59
Collins pen 65
Oseni 78
Amaechi 80
Reading (24th) 1-2 AFC Wimbledon (10th)
Stevens 32
Browne 70
Wing 86
Stevenage (1st) 2-0 Northampton Town (21st)
Kemp 67
Yahyai 82
Wigan Athletic (8th) 2-0 Peterborough United (23rd)
Saydee 5
Kerr 28
Barnsley lie in 3rd place in Sky Bet League One with 7 points from 3 games. We are 1 point inside the Play-Offs, Goals Difference off the Automatic Promotion Places, 2 points off First Place and 6 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 16/8/25
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet League One Matchday Four: Peterborough United v Barnsley, Tuesday 19th August 2025. Kick-Off: 7:45pm
At Oakwell:
EFL Cup Second Round: Barnsley v Rotherham United, Tuesday 26th August 2025. Kick-Off: 7:45pm
