Barnsley played for more than 80 minutes with ten men as they started 2023 with a 3-0 loss at home to Bolton Wanderers.

The Reds made a disastrous start as captain Mads Andersen was sent off in the tenth minute for conceding a penalty which was scored. Robbie Cundy gifted the visitors another goal just before the break then they added another late on.

The result ended Barnsley’s seven-game unbeaten run in League One fixtures and their sequence of five straight home victories in all competitions.

They fell down two places to in sixth League One, with Derby County and Bolton overtaking them. They are 12 points off the top two and two clear in the play-off places.

Michael Duff was in the dugout after being sent off on in the match against Fleetwood on Thursday. Barnsley have appealed the red card but the decision is yet to be made.

He made one change from the win over Fleetwood. Matty Wolfe came in for Adam Phillips who was not in the squad. Josh Benson was back on the bench after injury.

Bolton had the first opening of the game, with Dion Charles hitting the side netting from a tight angle on the right of the box after latching onto a long ball.

Charles was put through again inside the first ten minutes, this time in an even better position but – under real pressure from Liam Kitching – fired over the bar from close range.

Barnsley had looked totally off the pace from the start and soon fell behind. Charles won a penalty in the tenth minute, being tripped on the left of the box by Andersen who was sent off. It was the second time in as many games that the Reds captain conceded a penalty and the third they had given away in three games as a team. Charles beat Collins from the spot to open the scoring.

Kitching had Barnsley’s first half chance after 20 minutes, heading a left-wing Luca Connell free-kick well over.

Charles should have made it 2-0 but headed well off-target unmarked from about eight yards out after meeting George Johnston’s left-wing cross.

Barnsley seemed to settle down but conceded a vital second just before the break. Cundy gifted the ball to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson on the edge of the box and, after the striker won a challenge with Brad Collins, he tapped into the empty net.

Luca Connell saw a powerful shot from just outsidde the box saved.

Barnsley started the second half well and created some chances.

Connell shot wide of the top right corner after an excellent run past two defenders. Norwood was then put through by Kane but his shot from the edge of the box was dragged wide.

Norwood also saw a powerful half-volley from 15 yards out on the right of the box turned out of the bottom right corner by James Trafford.

But that spell of pressure dried up and Bolton got a third on 76 minutes. After intricate passing down their left wing, Kyle Dempsey nutmegged Collins when one-on-one.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins; Cundy, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane (Martin 77mins), Connell, Wolfe (Benson 67), Cadden (Larkeche 77); Cole, Norwood (Jalo 67).

Unused: Walton, Moon, Ackroyd.

Red cards: Andersen.

Bolton (3-5-2): Trafford; Johnston, Aimson, Toal, Bradley (Sadlier 81mins), Lee (Sheehan 81), Morley, Dempsey, Iredale (Jones 56), Bodvarsson (Bakayoko 72), Charles (Kachunga 72).

Unused: Williams, Santos,.

Goals: Charles (pen) 11, Bodvarsson 41, Dempsey 76.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:05pm
    Good work on the right between Norwood and Williams. Cole played in on the right but his. cross hits a defender then him and goes out for a goal kick
  • 3:07pm
    This will be on of the biggest attendances of the season. The away end is packed and pretty noisy
  • 3:08pm
    5 First opening the of game as Bolton striker Dion Charles is played through by a long ball but his shot from the right of the box at a tight angle hits the side netting
  • 3:11pm
    Bigger chance for Charles. Barnsley lose the ball in the middle and he's put through. Kitching puts him under a lot of pressure., he fires over and Bolton want a penalty
  • 3:13pm
    Penalty to Bolton. Andersen sent off
  • 3:14pm
    He brought down Dion Charles
  • 3:15pm
    GOAL!
    Dion Charles nets a penalty after being fouled by Andersen.
  • 3:18pm
    Barnsley just have not started at all. Bolton all over them. Third pen conceded in three games. Looked a foul but not sure about red card.
  • 3:18pm
    Barnsley just in survival mode now. They've defended a couple of corners
  • 3:20pm
    Obviously a disastrous start but a long way to go. If Barnsley can get something today it will be a show of real character
  • 3:23pm
    20 First half chance (being generous) for the Reds. Kitching heads over a left wing Connell cross
  • 3:27pm
    22 Big chance for 2-0. George Johnston's cross from the left finds Charles unmarked about eight yards out but he heads well off target
  • 3:29pm
    Barnsley are now in a back four, still two up front but with one of them often dropping onto the wing
  • 3:32pm
    Bolton look the more threatening but Barnsley having to defend well. Kitching slides to cut out a cross and concede a corner
  • 3:33pm
    30 Bolton corner from the left. The referee sees a foul
  • 3:35pm
    Barnsley really struggling to get on the ball here. They are lacking composure, which is not too surprising after the shock of having your captain sent off after ten minutes. Duff will probably take this score at half-time and the chance to regroup
  • 3:36pm
    33 Cross from the right reaches Bodvarsson, his shot takes a big deflection and Collins runs off his line to catch
  • 3:36pm
    Liam Kitching is captain in Andersen's absence
  • 3:38pm
    Barnsley have arguably looked more solid at the back with ten men than 11, as the hosts had two huge chances before the penalty. But Bolton are still well on top
  • 3:39pm
    36 Bolton free-kick from the right. Headed by Cole back to Collins to catch
  • 3:40pm
    37 Kane free-kick on the right, punched away by goalkeeper James Trafford
  • 3:41pm
    Barnsley are slowly settling into this game and. showing some more attacking threat and fight.
  • 3:44pm
    GOAL!
    Jon Dadi Bodvarsson doubles the scoring after a bad error by Robbie Cundy
  • 3:46pm
    Horrible moment for Cundy, who was the hero in the last game. He fluffs a clearance and the striker wins a challenge with Collins then taps into the empty net.
  • 3:47pm
    That felt like a big moment in the game as the Reds had just started to look a bit more organised and solid. 1-0 at half-time and they are still well in the game
  • 3:48pm
    Just after that goal, Nicky Cadden saw a swerving shot from just outside the box pushed away by the goalkeeper
  • 3:48pm
    Two added minutes
  • 3:51pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Bolton 2. Disastrous half for the Reds who had captain Mads Andersen sent off in the tenth minute
  • 4:07pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:09pm
    Bolton win a corner on the right
  • 4:09pm
    48 Corner cleared then Aaron Morley shot blocked
  • 4:11pm
    49 Brilliant run from Connell past two men but his right-footed shot from outside the box is wide of the top right corner
  • 4:14pm
    52 Decent chance for the Reds. Kane finds Norwood just outside the box running through on goal but he scuffs a shot well wide
  • 4:16pm
    54 Connell corner on right. Headed away
  • 4:17pm
    Barnsley have started this half well and the fans are really getting behind them
  • 4:18pm
    Bolton are bringing on ex-Red Gethin Jones for Jack Iredale
  • 4:19pm
    57 Free-kick on the right taken by Kane. Headed out then Cadden's follow up cross is headed back to the goalkeeper
  • 4:21pm
    Bolton's Conor Bradley receives a long ball on the right but slices his cross behind
  • 4:23pm
    After a sustained period of pressing, the ball drops Norwood on the right of the box and his powerful half volley from about 15yards is turned behind by Trafford
  • 4:23pm
    63 Connell's corner is cleared
  • 4:26pm
    Josh Benson is coming on but first Bolton have a corner on the left
  • 4:27pm
    Corner goes all the way out
  • 4:28pm
    Fabio Jalo and Josh Benson for Norwood and Wolfe
  • 4:29pm
    Benson wins a free-kick for a high boot to the face
  • 4:30pm
    68 Benson's 25-yard free-kick is easily saved by Trafford
  • 4:33pm
    Bolton bring off Dion Charles for Elias Kachunga and Bodvarrson for Amadou Bakayoko
  • 4:36pm
    Into the final 15 minutes here. The game has fizzled out a bit after Barnsley started well early in the second half. Can they mount a grandstand finish?
  • 4:37pm
    Kyle Dempsey makes it three and surely finishes the Reds off
  • 4:39pm
    GOAL!
    The away fans are 'ole'-ing every pass as their team take the hosts apart with a good intricate move on the left and then Dempsey finishes past Collins from close range
  • 4:42pm
    Barnsley have brought on Josh Martin and Ziyad Larkeche for Kane and Cadden
  • 4:47pm
    This is going to be a heavy loss for the Reds and a disappointing result against a promotion rival but the game was decided really by the early red card
  • 4:50pm
    Aaron Morley fires well wide from outside the box
  • 4:52pm
    Three added minutes
  • 4:55pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Bolton 3.