OLD adversaries, familiar foes, call Barnsley what you like, their fortunes have been inextricably linked with Bolton’s for the last few years.

In 10 meetings over the last three seasons the Tykes have followed the same course as Wanderers, they have sampled disappointment in both stages of the play-offs and known what it felt like to miss out on the top six altogether.

Ian Evatt feels the South Yorkshire side will be there again in May fighting it out for a place in the Championship and so even with the campaign yet to reach its halfway point, there is something significant riding on the outcome of their Boxing Day clash.

Several personnel have changed in red shirts since they walked off the Toughsheet in early May victors on the night but losers on aggregate, Bolton supporters celebrating all-too-prematurely in the event. But Evatt feels there has been little tactical change from the Michael Duff days.

“There aren’t many secrets,” he said. “Their squad has been pretty consistent, our squad has been pretty consistent and I think the game will look a similar way.

“Darrell Clarke being the manager now hasn’t really changed a great deal in terms of what their set-up looks like, who their personnel are and what they can do.

“They have got a good squad of players, Luca (Connell) is a player I really like and admire. Adam Phillips, the same. There are some really talented boys in that team so we have to be ready.”

Evatt has won three of the 10 meetings with Barnsley over the last three seasons, one of which was by a penalty shootout; he has also lost three and drawn four.

Clarke has shuffled the squad he inherited in May, a few weeks after the play-off defeat, which has included a man who made Bolton’s life difficult last season.

Stephen Humphrys scored three goals in two victories against the Whites whilst playing for Wigan Athletic – and will most likely lead the line for Barnsley on Thursday afternoon.

Evatt believes Barnsley, who start the day in ninth spot, will be among the challengers for promotion places and persists in his view that several sides are still in with a shout, including his own.

Birmingham City top the pile at Christmas and the Bolton boss predicts their spending power will most likely keep it that way, but he insists that there is plenty still up for grabs even though second-placed Wycombe lead his own club by 13 points at present.

“It is a really difficult, tight league and we saw on Friday that a team who has been doing so well at the top, it is not easy to win games and we could have easily won that game in different circumstances,” he said.

“I have said all along - and nothing I have seen will make me change my mind - with Birmingham’s spending power they are the team to beat, but they should be when they are spending over £30million and probably going to go again in January.

“I think they are the ones everyone is looking at as a benchmark, and then everyone else are going to be really tight and close. It is on SCMP (Salary Cost Management Protocol) and it is going to be throughout the season. That is the nature of the business and the facts. I think it will go down to the wire and Barnsley will be in that group, along with us.”

This week the EFL announced that there would be changes to the SCMP rules in Leagues One and Two, with the Championship to follow.

Evatt is comfortable that the spending plan at Bolton will not exceed the guidelines, even with further investment likely in January.

“No, we are comfortable with where we are at,” he said. “The board have invested again this season but every season, everyone’s spending power seems to go up and up.

“We are doing things which we are comfortable with, and I think that is the most important thing. We are never going to put this club at risk again, we are doing things as best we can to live within our means. That is how it will stay, definitely, under this investor group.”