Bolton Wanderers boss on John McAtee & Barnsley performance

The striker ended a five-month scoring drought with an 86th minute strike at Oakwell, rescuing a point in what proved a frustrating second half battling against 10 men.

McAtee’s last strike had been in the 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers in March, after which Schumacher admits the 26-year-old’s performances suffered in front of goal.

“He’s a confidence player, John McAtee, that’s exactly what he is,” he told The Bolton News.

“When we first came into the club at the end of January, he was brilliant for the first eight or 10 games, wasn't he? 

“He got half a dozen goals, he was really good. Towards the end of the season, the goals dried up, so as a striker or a forward player, if you don't score, you probably start thinking about it. 

“But I'm pleased for him, he was in the right place from a set-piece where he needs to be, and he flicks it in in front of the goalie, which was great.”

Wanderers had 17 shots on the Barnsley goal but struggled to find a way through in the second half. David McGoldrick had given the Tykes something to cling to just before they went down to 10 men with a second yellow card shown to midfielder Vimal Yoganathan.

“I thought from our attacking set pieces we looked very dangerous again and obviously got the goal at the end from one, so we’re pleased with that,” Schumacher said.

“We’re a bit disappointed really that in the end we couldn’t find that one big chance to get three points. Macca has probably had the best one with the header he flicked wide.

“I don’t think we were at our best, maybe not to the level we have been in the first three games where we have been really decisive. We were a bit passive at times, a little behind, and even in the first minute there was a touch from Amario (Cozier-Duberry) where he just overruns it a bit. He has been outstanding but if he gets that right it’s a goal in the first minute.

“So, OK, we weren’t quite our slick best, but to still have however many shots on the goal, and shots on target, the keeper's made a brilliant save, we've hit the post, we've had one cleared off the line, to still have that, when you haven't played brilliant, is a good sign.”

Having been on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat at Barnsley last season and been highly critical of his players’ performance on the day, Schumacher felt that the steel shown in South Yorkshire shows that the club are heading in a more positive direction.

“This was a completely different performance this year and against a stronger Barnsley team as well,” he said. “Whereas last year, when we came here, we didn't do the basics right. We didn't compete, we didn't do the ugly side of the game.

“Today, I felt we did. We did compete, and our duel percentages were really good. But we just didn't have enough clinical edge to make the most of the big chances that we had.

“As I say, I can take it, we can live with that, and we move on.”