On the 5th of March in League 1, England's third-tier division, at the Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley will face off against Bolton. Let's examine the state of the teams and try to make a decision that could boost our bankroll.
Last year, the "Tykes" got incredibly close to claiming a spot in the Championship. They finished the season in fourth place and got through to the playoffs. There, they bested Bolton but suffered a slight loss against Sheffield Wednesday in the final match, conceding during overtime with a minimal score.
In the 30th round, Barnsley claimed a home victory against Leyton Orient (2:1). Afterwards, the team ended in a draw against Shrewsbury Town (1:1). In the following round they managed to triumph on the road over Fleetwood with a score of (2:1). Following this victory, they then took down Derby County (2:1). In the most recent match, they prevailed over Wycombe Wanderers (4:2).
This team is familiar to many due to their Premier League tenure. Now, under the guidance of Ian Evatt, they've managed to climb out of League 2, and they're now enjoying their third season in England's third tier. Last year, they nearly got promoted to the Championship, but were bested by Barnsley during the playoff stages with a score of (1:2).
In the 31st round, the guys played a high-scoring draw against Charlton (3:3). Afterwards, Bolton managed to prevail on the road against Cambridge (2:1). However, in the subsequent match they suffered an unexpected defeat against Blackpool (1:4). The team then conceded a match against Wigan with a minimal score. In their last match, however, the guys defeated Cambridge (2:0).
The two teams last faced off on the 3rd of February, 2024. That match ended in a draw (1:1).
In this showdown it's rather tough to favour either team. Both teams have shown solid performances this season, but I would prefer to bet on a zero handicap for the hosts. Barnsley did quite well against Bolton on the road in their first encounter, managing a draw. Now, they run a streak of victories, which includes some strong opponents from the upper half of the league table. Bolton, on the other hand, has recently suffered two defeats on the road, hence it's unlikely they could cope in this match up.
It's unlikely both teams will deliver a high-scoring game, hence I would suggest betting on a total under 2.5
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