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.