EFL pundit Dean Ashton says Wanderers have the momentum ahead of their upcoming play-off clash with Barnsley.

The Whites finished the regular season with a 3-2 victory at Bristol Rovers thanks to goals from Shola Shoretire, Dan Nlundulu and Aaron Morley. They have now won three of their last four games on the road.

Meanwhile, Barnsley were beaten 2-0 by Peterborough on the final day and have now failed to win any of their last three matches.

Former West Ham striker Ashton reckons Ian Evatt’s men can take plenty of encouragement from their success in the Papa Johns Trophy as they aim to go all the way in the play-offs.

But the 39-year-old insists form goes out of the window in these types of fixtures and says Barnsley must “reset”.

Speaking as a pundit on the EFL highlights show, he said: “You’d have to say Bolton (have the momentum) with their form, one defeat in 10.

“They managed to rest a few players and the manager has signed a new deal.

“They have got previous – when you beat the champions at Wembley, you have got to feel confident in that sense in a knockout competition which this now is.

“Barnsley have had back-to-back defeats at Oakwell and their recent form has not been great away. But it’s the play-offs, you have got to reset again.”

Michael Duff’s side finished fourth in the League One table on 86 points – five more than Wanderers.

The Whites ran out 3-0 winners at Oakwell in January after goals from Dion Charles, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kyle Dempsey. The hosts played most of the game with 10 men after Mads Andersen was given his marching orders.

But the Tykes came out on top at the UniBol in the FA Cup first round, recording a 2-1 victory despite Bodvarsson’s header 10 minutes from time.

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