STEVEN Schumacher admitted that Barnsley were “better in every department” as his side were soundly beaten at Oakwell to leave their play-off credentials in doubt.
A heavy defeat – their fifth in seven games – leaves Wanderers in eighth, three points behind sixth-placed Reading with an inferior goal difference with four games remaining.
Two goals apiece for Jonathan Russell and Fabio Jalo did significant damage in what was a hugely disappointing performance for the Bolton boss.
“Today we weren't good enough,” he said. “I think I've always been honest, since I've been here. The games we've lost previously, I've said, I don't feel as though we deserve to lose them.
“We played well, we just haven't taken our chances and made mistakes. But today, we were miles off it, for 35 minutes especially. Nowhere near good enough, didn't win a tackle, didn't do the basics well enough, didn't land on second balls.
“And I’m forced into making three changes after 35 minutes, which is very rare, because of how bad the performance was. We're just flat. And Barnsley, as we said to the players before the game, they're going to be up for it.
“They're desperate to beat Bolton because of what's gone on over the years here. They had nothing to lose, nothing to play for. They could play with that freedom, and we just didn't.
“For 35 minutes, we were terrible. And then finally we made a tackle.
“Jay Matete wins the tackle, puts John McAtee in and he gets a chance from it. And a couple of minutes before, I think Aaron Collins gets a big chance. As bad as we were. We should have been two each at half-time.
“But that's no hiding behind the fact that we weren't good enough.”
The two chances at the end of the first half did briefly raise hopes of a comeback – but Schumacher was left disappointed that they failed to get a grip of the game after the restart.
He said: “If you don't take chances, then you don't win. That's a fact. But it wasn't about that today. That's not what the overall thing was today. The thing was that Barnsley were better than us.
“They were better in every department, certainly, for the first 35 minutes. I thought after half time, we were better.
“I thought for 15 minutes we looked like a team that were in the ascendancy. And if we score, then who knows? Barnsley haven't been great at home. And the crowd would have got edgy and our crowd behind a goal would be brilliant again. It would have given us something to go at.
“But we missed a big chance from a free kick. That maybe goes in. Alex Murphy has one block, I think, on the line. And, yes, we just didn't get ourselves back in front.
“They scored when we got Jordi (Osei-Tutu) injured off the pitch. And I know we got one back to give us half a hope.
“But with only 10 men on the pitch, it was hard. And the last goal is what it is.”
To compound Bolton’s problems, Aaron Morley left the field on a stretcher, Jordi Osei-Tutu limped off to leave them with 10 men in the closing stages, and Schumacher confirmed there were additional injuries to Josh Sheehan and Alex Murphy during the game.
“Jordi looks like it's a knock on the knee from the tackle,” he said. “And it was a bad tackle.
“Aaron Morley looks a serious one. He's rolled his ankle.
“He is in a little bit of bother in there. He doesn't feel too comfortable. And Josh Sheehan, at half-time, said he had a tight thigh.
“Alex Murphy played probably the last 15 minutes hobbling around because he rolled his ankle on the pitch. So, not a great day for us all round.”
