Barnsley vs Bolton Prediction and Betting Tips: Two selections for play-off semi-final first leg
Barnsley and Bolton are the first of this season's two pairs to go toe-to-toe in the League One play-offs in a repeat of last year's semi-final matchup.
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11 points separated the two in the regular season as an additional four victories for Bolton saw the Wanderers finish third, but still five points shy of Derby County who earned the second automatic place in next season's Championship lineup.
Barnsley, on the other hand, were unable to win any of their last six matches, just about maintaining their spot in the division's top six, but leading the club to part company with boss Neill Collins ahead of this crucial last push for promotion.
Barnsley vs Bolton Tips
Luton Town loanee John McAtee was part of the front three selected by Martin Devaney for final day duties in the draw with Northampton and should retain his place alongside Devante Cole at the head of their 3-5-2 formation.
During the normal 46-game course, the 24-year-old registered the joint-eighth highest tally of shots on target in the division with 38 - only five behind the aforementioned League One joint-third top scorer Cole.
Knowing he'll have to make use of home advantage in this first leg spells good fortune for this bet, which has landed in each of McAtee's last four, in seven of his most recent eight outings and on 24/40 occasions in the league for his temporary employers during the 2023/24 campaign.
Believe it or not, there is a sizeable price disparity between bet365 and the other two firms who have this particular player prop market up at the time of writing, Sky Bet and William Hill. Getting odds-on for this line seems too good to be true when comparing those odds against Sky's 2/7 or WH's 3/10, so act quickly before it vanishes.
Both of this season's head-to-head meetings between Barnsley and Bolton finished all square, which is exactly how we're predicting Friday's contest will pan out.
Devaney needs to arrest a serious slump in form for the beloved club he takes temporary charge of for the second time, and having the opening semi-final at home will suit the Colliers given how first legs tend to be tight contests.
Barnsley have drawn their last two at Oakwell, also coming up against a side who've drawn four of their last six games on the road and who only possess one win across their eight most recent away trips.
Furthermore, these two have drawn a combined total of 25 matches across the 92 League One fixtures they've played. Recent history between them also suggests that not much has been evident to separate them, with three of the last four and five of the last nine contests ending with honours shared.
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