The nightmarish experience of Sheffield Wednesday the night before frightened both sets of players in the other League One play-off semi-final back into their shells even before the game had kicked off.
Both managers confessed that their respective squads had watched in disbelief as the Owls, strong favourites for promotion all season before sliding into the play-offs, lost their first leg 4-0 at London Road.
That resulted in a tense, cagey affair at Bolton in which Barnsley briefly took the lead through Nicky Cadden in the second half only for Dio Charles to bag his 21st of the season, taking advantage of a goalkeeping error by Harry Isted.