"Raging" - Barnsley's Stephen Humphrys takes swipe at Bolton Wanderers that Wigan Athletic supporters will love | OneFootball

The frontman took to social media to rub salt in the Trotters' wounds.

Ex-Wigan Athletic striker Stephen Humphrys took to social media to poke fun at Bolton Wanderers fans after his Barnsley side defeated the Trotters on Saturday afternoon.

Barnsley dismantled Bolton with a 4-1 victory at Oakwell, leaving Steven Schumacher’s visitors three points adrift of the play-off positions.

A pair of braces from Jonathan Russell and Fabio Jalo secured all three points for the Tykes, who had gone winless in their previous seven games before their victory at the weekend - a first for caretaker boss Conor Hourihane.

It’s been a disappointing season overall for the South Yorkshire outfit, who haven’t threatened the top six for several months now, but there now appears to be signs of life in the very latter stages.

Stephen Humphrys takes swipe at Bolton Wanderers after 4-1 hammering

Humphrys started out on the left flank against Bolton this weekend, before he was replaced in the 67th minute with Barnsley 2-0 up - he didn't get on the scoresheet, but he did have three shots and was a threat to the opposition defence.

Prior to his move to Oakwell last summer, the 27-year-old had spent three years at Wigan Athletic - Bolton's bitterest of rivals.

And after the game on Saturday, the frontman took to social media to take a cheeky swipe at the Trotters fans.

Humphrys said, via X: “4 goals, 3 points, Horwich fans raging… all sounds too familiar.”

Humphrys’ comments were likely referencing last season’s clash between Wigan and Bolton, when the Latics won 4-0 at the home of their bitter rivals, with the striker netting a brace.

Wigan then went on to complete the double over Bolton last time out, when Humphrys struck the only goal of the game in the reverse fixture to put a severe dent in the Trotter’s promotion ambitions.

It was no surprise to see that these comments weren’t well-received by several Bolton fans, amid what has been a frustrating campaign for them.

Bolton Wanderers' play-off hopes remain in the balance thanks to Barnsley defeat

Bolton’s defeat at Oakwell on Saturday could serve as a big missed opportunity if they fail to reach the top six come the end of the season.

Although Reading could only draw at Northampton (who played the final part of the game with 10 men), Leyton Orient picked up three points away at Crawley.

Those results from their two direct rivals mean that Schumacher’s men remain just three points outside the play-off positions. However, had they defeated Barnsley, they would have been below Reading on goal difference alone.

If the Trotters are to claim that final play-off spot come May 3, it’s vital they find some sort of form over the course of the final four games.

Inconsistency has plagued them all season, and yesterday’s defeat was their fifth loss in the last seven games, which is not the sort of form you want to be taking into a potential post-season shootout.

With Wycombe Wanderers to come next Friday, followed by an awkward trip to Lincoln the following Monday, things don’t look like getting any easier for Bolton.

However, they must find a way of taking something from those games if they want to avoid disappointment at the end of the campaign.