Walsall's League One promotion dream ends in heartache

The Saddlers, who finished third in League One, fell to a 6-1 aggregate loss against the Tykes, who will now face either Bradford or Millwall at Wembley for a place in the Championship.

In what was a hugely eventful season at the Banks's Stadium, Walsall competed for promotion throughout despite operating on one of the smallest budgets in the division.

They also had to overcome big changes off the field when, after a blistering start, long-serving manager Dean Smith opted to join Championship outfit Brentford in November.

Despite the set-back, Walsall secured a dramatic 3-1 victory at Shrewsbury days after with Sean O'Driscoll then appointed as Smith's successor.

But despite an impressive CV, O'Driscoll failed to settle and after 16 games the former Doncaster Rovers manager was dismissed with Jon Whitney stepping in as interim boss for a second time.

The club's former head of medicine made a blistering start and won his first three games in charge with the Saddlers then continuing to impress until a heavy 4-0 defeat at Bradford on April 23.

Nevertheless, Whitney's men went into the final day of the league season still in with a chance of winning automatic promotion.

Walsall needed to beat Port Vale and hope Burton lost at Doncaster.

But while the Saddlers kept their side of the bargain – with an emphatic 5-0 victory at Port Vale – Nigel Clough's Brewers secured a 0-0 draw at the Keepmoat Stadium.

That meant Whitney's side missed out on automatic promotion by a single point – with more heartbreak then following in the play-offs.