TUESDAY promises to be a memorable night at the Toughsheet – provided Wanderers turn up to their own party, of course.

With a 3-1 lead and home advantage, it is tempting to say that Ian Evatt’s side have done the hard work in the play-off semi-final.

In the 37 years that the play-offs have been contested, only four clubs have wasted such a position. Only Blackpool – then managed by Sam Allardyce – have done it in front of their own fans.

The Seasiders had led Bradford 2-0 in the first leg but capitulated at home with goals from Carl Shutt, Des Hamilton and Mark Stallard earning Chris Kamara’s Bantams their first-ever trip to Wembley.

So the story goes, Blackpool had already booked coaches to the capital and had advertised supporters’ travel in the matchday programme.

Wanderers have been more careful, manager and players reiterating immediately after the game at Oakwell that their job is merely halfway done. All the right things have been said, but in Evatt’s own words, only actions count from here to the final whistle on May 18.

Only three sides have beaten Bolton at home in the league this season – Wigan, Carlisle and Bristol Rovers – and it is worth noting that Barnsley, along with Exeter and Leyton Orient, are a rare example of a team who has earned more points away from home.

The Yorkshiremen have won a dozen games on the road, losing just five times, so the confidence voiced by Josh Earl in his post-match interview at the weekend is not entirely misplaced.

They are susceptible to conceding early goals, however, shipping more inside the first 15 minutes (13) than any other club in League One. Bolton would love to add another to the tally to settle nerves – but their opponents have also shown themselves to be scrappy when going behind, coming back to take 29 points from losing positions, by some way the most in the division.

“Barnsley can be an incredibly dangerous team,” said Evatt, looking ahead to the second leg. “They have taken pretty much two points a game away from home, which is excellent.

“The way they play doesn’t really change. They put you under pressure, have lots of runners from midfield, they are good from set plays and put balls in the box, they have players who want to shoot from distance. They are never really out of a game.

“We saw that on Friday. We were really comfortable, doing the right things, but one slip up from our back line cost us a goal and they had loads of momentum after that. We had to weather the storm a little bit.

“We have to guard against that but then bring to the table our quality and football, and I think we will see more of that tomorrow night.”

Barnsley need goals – but Evatt does not see them changing their style too drastically from their previous meetings.

“Generally they are quite an open team, they back themselves to out-score the opposition. I don’t think that will change.

“They probably need to attack it a bit more than they usually would away from home but they have had some really good results. They can be dangerous in transition and counter attacks.

“If you think about the home game here in the league they were really dangerous in some of those moments. I think we had about 70 per cent possession but they arguably had the better chances to score. They are that type of team, one which can be dangerous without the ball because they can spring forward in a heartbeat.

“Two goals in any game is an awkward scoreline and we know a goal could change everything for both teams. It’s our aim to get it but if we don’t it is important we don’t panic. We have to reset.

“The first goal is always important and perhaps especially so on Tuesday night because of that two-goal scoreline.”

Only Oxford (42.9 per cent) and Blackpool (45.3 per cent) have spent more time leading games on home soil this season and Bolton have not failed to score in front of their own supporters since the defeat against Wigan last August.

If the Whites can play to type they stand a strong chance to be involved in their first play-off final since 2001.