Walsall 1-3 Barnet: Pressure mounts on Mat Sadler after demoralising defeat
Walsall sunk to a demoralising 3-1 defeat against Barnet at Bescot, as they extended their winless run to five games to intensify pressure on boss Mat Sadler.
Adam Senior provided the breakthrough for Barnet in the 41st-minute, before Idris Kanu doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half.
Daniel Kanu pulled one back with his 16th goal of the season, but Kabongo Tshimanga quickly made it 3-1 just four minutes later.
Walsall remain seventh despite back-to-back defeats, although eighth-place Chesterfield beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 to move within just a point of the play-off places.
Sadler made three changes with Evan Weir, Charlie Lakin and Aaron Pressley replacing Harrison Burke, Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah.
Barnet had the lion's share of possession during the opening stages, as Walsall sat deep and struggled to get out.
Senior guided a towering header wide when he met Anthony Hartigan's corner at the back post. Myles Roberts then produced a save from the very top drawer when he adjusted his feet magnificently to tip Senior's goal-bound effort over the crossbar.
A rare Walsall attack went to waste on the half-hour mark when Daniel Kanu spun away from his marker and raced down the inside-left.
Alex Pattison peeled away to his right, but Kanu selfishly decided to go alone, as he dragged wide of the near post.
Kanu then had a goal disallowed for offside after his initial effort struck Pressley who was in an offside position.
Barnet took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Senior escaped his marker to stab his finish beyond the reach of Roberts from Kane Smith's low delivery.
Sadler opted for four substitutions at the interval, as Brandon Comley, Courtney Clarke, Rico Richards and Aaron Loupalo-Bi were introduced.
Idris Kanu went close to doubling the Bees' lead - albeit inadvertently - when his cross swerved dangerously on to the top of the crossbar.
Loupalo-Bi had a presentable chance to equalise after Hancock swung a stunning cross into the box, but the young striker never looked confident, as his effort was blocked.
The visitors doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half - prompting chants of 'we want Sadler out' from the home fans.
Barnet broke through the middle of the pitch with ease as Ryan Glover was released in behind. His low cross was parried by Roberts but Idris Kanu smashed home on the follow-up.
Daniel Kanu threatened a fightback when he made no mistake with the finish after the ball deflected fortuitously into his feet midway into the second period.
But it was merely prove a short reprieve, as Tshimanga restored the Bees' two-goal cushion just four minutes later.
Idris Kanu surged down the left and squared for Tshimanga to score his fourth goal in five games.
A large number of fans made for an early exit and those that stayed made their dissatisfaction known at full-time,.
Next, Walsall will not be in action again for another 11 days when they visit Grimsby Town on February 18.
Teams
Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Farquharson, Flint, Weir; Chang (Comley 46); Barrett, Pattison (Clarke 46), Lakin (Richards 46), Hancock (Adomah 78); Pressley (Loupalo-Bi 46), Kanu.
Not used Hornby, Burke.
Barnet (4-4-3): Slicker; Smith (Chinedu 80), Kizzi, Collinge, Senior; Ofoborh, Hartigan; Shelton (Browne 80); Kanu, Tshimanga, Glover (Jaiyesimi 77).
Not used: Evans, Adeniran, Hawkins.
Other details
Referee: Paul Marsden
Attendance: 5,179 (288)
