Barnsley suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers in Sky Bet League One on Monday afternoon.

Dion Charles’ early penalty was added to by Jón Dadi Bödvarsson and Kyle Dempsey as the Reds’ seven-game unbeaten run in the league came to a halt.

It truth, a slow start ultimately proved costly, with the ever-lively Charles twice getting in behind and missing the target, before being bundled over by Mads Andersen, who was promptly dismissed as the referee pointed to the spot.

Charles dusted himself off and slammed home from 12-yards, with Barnsley getting off to the worst possible start at Oakwell.

A well-worked set-piece delivery from Luca Connell was met by Liam Kitching, but the Reds’ defender and stand-in skipper could only glance wide as we searched for a way back into the encounter.

However, a defensive mix-up five minutes before the interval gave Barnsley a mountain to climb when Bödvarsson capitalised on miscommunication between Robbie Cundy and Brad Collins to slot home into an empty net.

In the closing stages, Connell stung the hands of James Trafford before Herbie Kane fizzed an effort narrowly wide of the upright.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-2 Bolton Wanderers

We made a bright start to the second half as Connell jinked his way beyond three players and fired an attempt high and wide into the Ponty End, while James Norwood also crashed a shot the wrong side of the upright.

Norwood came close shortly after, too – when Devante Cole’s strike deflected into his path, our number nine’s half-volley brought a good save from Trafford down to his left.

But the tie was effectively ended as a contest 15 minutes from time when Dempsey skipped around a few challenges and played a quick one-two before drilling through the legs of Collins.

Despite this loss, the Reds remain in the top six, with games in hand on those around us.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0-3 Bolton Wanderers

REDS XI: Collins (GK), Williams, Cundy, Andersen (C), Kitching, Cadden (Larkeche, 77), Wolfe (Benson, 66), Connell, Kane (Martin, 76), Cole, Norwood (Jalo, 66).

Not used: Walton (GK), Moon, Ackroyd.

BOLTON XI: Trafford (GK), Johnston, Bödvarsson (Bakayoko, 72), Charles (Kachunga, 72), Iredale (Jones, 56), Aimson, Morley, Toal, Lee (C) (Sheehan, 81), Bradley (Sadlier, 81), Dempsey.

Not used: Williams, Santos.