Just over 63 years ago, Barnsley visited Bolton and were on the receiving end of an 8-0 thrashing, a result that went down in history as the Wanderers' record league victory. Ray Westwood scored four in that second division showdown during what was to be a momentous season for the forward, who went on to collect 30 goals in 38 league games and earn his first cap for England.
How Bolton could do with another Westwood now. They have scored just 17 in the league this season and could manage no more than one yesterday against the Premiership's poorest defence. Barnsley have conceded 51 goals, 31 on their travels, but they would have kept a clean sheet in the Reebok had it not been for a freakish piece of brilliance from the Bolton captain, Gudni Bergsson, seven minutes before half-time.
The home side, missing two of their best players - the suspended Alan Thompson and Dean Holdsworth - had been strangely hesitant in the last third of the field and David Watson in the Barnsley goal had not had a thing to deal with.
Then Bergsson advanced with the ball from his right-back position, moved slightly inside, looked up and seeing Watson off his line, shot fiercely and precisely from fully 40 yards, over the goalkeeper's head and into the disbelieving net.
"It was a stupendous strike, a wonder goal," said the Barnsley manager Danny Wilson. "It dipped and it bent and went arse over tit and did everything before it went in." It was extremely harsh on Barnsley who had attacked with a sense of adventure generally thought inappropriate for a bottom-of-the-table side, sweeping through the sluggish Bolton midfield like a destructive Christmas whirlwind.
Georgi Hristov had already missed a sitter and fired against the post when he put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute. Darren Sheridan drifted right to the left across the front of the penalty area before trying his luck with a shot. Gavin Ward chose to punch the ball out, but did not get a firm enough contact and Hristov, the £1.5 million buy from Partizan Belgrade, dived forward to head home.
If it had been like watching Brazil in the first half, it was like watching Guatemala in the second as Barnsley concentrated on defence. Bolton, however, never really looked dangerous, despite an increase in goal-mouth action at the visitors' end, though Per Frandsen was unlucky with a free kick that came back off the bar. "It would probably have been an injustice had we won," said the Bolton manager Colin Todd.
Bolton now go to Everton tomorrow, with Barnsley hosting Derby County. On January 3rd, these two promoted clubs will have a chance to settle their differences again in the FA Cup third round at Oakwell, but after three draws in their last three games, do not bet against re-play.
Middlesbrough stayed at the top of the First Division after beating Huddersfield at the McAlpine Stadium yesterday. Second-placed Nottingham Forest's striker Kevin Campbell scored twice within 22 minutes to keep the pressure on Robson's men.
