Bolton captain Gudni Bergsson scored an extraordinary goal to give his side a
share of the points at home to bottom-club Barnsley.
Georgi Hristov gave the visitors the lead after 19 minutes when he headed in
from five yards after Gavin Ward failed to hold Darren Sheridan's shot.
But Bergsson levelled the scores eight minutes before the interval with an
astonishing 40-yard effort that sailed over the head of a startled David
Watson.
It was the Icelandic international's first goal of the season - and must be
his best ever by a long, long way.
Barnsley failed to clear Sellars' corner and the ball fell to Bergsson on the
right hand side, some 40 yards from goal.
A cross back into the still-crowded area looked certain but Bergsson, who has
played in every league game this season, let fly and Watson was powerless to
prevent the ball reaching the top corner.
It was clearly a day for rare occurrences, as only the second meeting of these
two clubs in the Premiership had produced only Hristov's second goal of the
season.
In fact Hristov had not scored since the last meeting of these two sides back
in August at Oakwell.
But the Macedonian international was the quickest to react after Sheridan took
advantage of a quickly-taken free-kick to fire in a shot that Ward could only
parry, and Hristov stooped to head in from five yards out.
Barnsley fully deserved their lead, especially as manager Danny Wilson had
chosen a surprisingly attacking side for a team that conceded its 50th
Premiership goal in last week's 3-0 defeat at Spurs.
Clint Marcelle was brought in to the midfield as one of four changes, and he
was always the first to offer support to the front two.
Ashley Ward went close with a spectacular overhead kick in the first minute
and six minutes blasted over on the turn.
Marcelle then sent Hristov racing clear only for the 21-year-old to hit the
side-netting when it looked easier to score.
And Marcelle was again the provider on 17 minutes when his header put Hristov
past the last defender and he was unlucky to see his shot come back off the foot
of the post.
Bolton made two changes from the side beaten at Leeds, Mark Fish back from
international duty and Mike Whitlow recovering from a virus.
And just as Barnsley had dominated the first half, Bolton took charge of the
second period, with Per Frandsen involved in creating their best two chances.
Two minutes after the restart his low drive from the edge of the penalty area
forced a smart low save from Watson.
Frandsen then supplied the cross which saw Nathan Blake flash a diving header
just wide of the far post.
In between those opportunities, Colin Todd brought on Arnar Gunnlaugsson to
replace Michael Johansen and Gerry Taggart for Mark Fish.
But Taggart, returning after a groin injury, lasted only five minutes before
he had to be replaced by Neil Cox.
Barnsley were by now struggling to get out of their own half but Bolton lacked
the necessary guile to break down stubborn resistance.
They could count themselves unlucky not to have taken the lead after 76
minutes however, Frandsen's free-kick from just outside the area crashing
against the bar before being scrambled away.
And a minute later Blake outstripped a sluggish visiting defence only to fire
into the side netting.
It would have been cruel on Barnsley though, who restricted Bolton to a
handful of chances and were only denied all three points by a moment of sheer
genius.
Teams
Bolton: Ward, Frandsen, Pollock, Sellars, Blake, Bergsson,
Beardsley, Johansen (Gunnlaugsson 58), Todd, Fish (Taggart 62),
Whitlow, Taggart (Cox 67).
Subs Not Used: Carr, Jaaskelainen.
Booked: Blake, Bergsson.
Goals: Bergsson 38.
Barnsley: Watson, Eaden, Sheridan, Moses, De Zeeuw, Redfearn,
Marcelle (Liddell 72), Tinkler, Hristov (Hendrie 67), Barnard,
Ward.
Subs Not Used: Bullock, Appleby, Krizan.
Booked: De Zeeuw.
Goals: Hristov 20.
Att: 25,000
Ref: S W Dunn (Bristol).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook