The most important thing for Bolton was to get the three points NIGEL Spackman paid a glowing tribute to Sam Allardyce for taking Wanderers to the doorstep of the Premiership.

The Oakwell boss put aside his disappointment at seeing his injury-hit and relatively young Barnsley boys beaten on their last home appearance of the season and acknowledged the standards Big Sam has set in his 18 months in charge at the Reebok.

"I think Sam's done a fantastic job since going in at Bolton," Spackman said after Saturday's 1-0 defeat kept Wanderers in with an outside chance of automatic promotion.

"Last year they got to two semi-finals in the cups and the play-offs, finishing sixth now this year's all about getting promotion and he's done a wonderful job getting them where they are. If they get that second spot it will have been a fantastic season for them, if they get in the play-offs it will still have been a very good season.

"We are still trying to build here and it takes a bit of time. Hopefully, in the coming seasons, we can get to a position like Bolton."

Spackman was sore about what he described as "a couple of dodgy decisions" and felt his young midfielder Alex Neil was unfortunate to be red-carded for two bookable offences - no arguments about his second half trip on Michael Ricketts but defensive over a minor dissent just before half time. But he had no beef about the result.

"I'm not making the excuse that the referee or the linesman cost us the game," he insisted. "It was a very close encounter and we played well in the first half. All credit to the players because, being without Steve Chettle and Mitch Ward, the average age of the side was very young.

"The pressure was on Bolton to come and get the three points and they've done that by keeping a clean sheet and punishing us with a goal after a mistake we made in midfield.

"Bolton have played better but for the run-in the most important thing for Sam and his boys was to get the three points and they've got them."