Walsall 0 Barnsley 1 - Report and pictures

The two teams entered the game at contrasting ends of the League One table with the Tykes in the race for automatic promotion and the Saddlers in the bottom four.

But it was Dean Keates’ side who should have come away with a much needed victory..

Isaiah Osbourne was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out for a foul. Corey Blackett-Taylor also had an effort cleared off the line.

But Josh Gordon and Zeli Ismail both missed one-on-ones as the Saddlers took the game to the opponents.

In the end though it was the Tykes who stole the points in stoppage with Jacob Brown firing in at the second attempt to break the hearts of Walsall fans.

The result means Walsall remain in the bottom four ahead of today's 3pm kick-offs.

Analysis

Keates made a number of bold decisions when naming his starting XI despite opting to stick with the 4-3-3 system used over the past few weeks.

The one change from the loss at Sunderland saw Isaiah Osbourne come into the midfield in place of Joe Edwards.

But top scorer Andy Cook again had to make do with a place on the bench with Josh Gordon the central striker and Zeli Ismail and Corey Blackett-Taylor on the flanks.

Barnsley, under the guidance of Daniel Stendel, were without first choice keeper Adam Davies and winger Ryan Hedges after they were named in the Wales squad.

It meant the Tykes lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Jacob Brown on the right of midfield, Mamadou Thiam on the left and Mike Bahre operating in the number 10 role behind Cauley Woodrow.

In what was a thoroughly entertaining opening 10 minutes, Walsall had the ball in the net early on only for referee Ben Toner to rule it out.

After Blackett-Taylor went on darting run down the left, the winger whipped in a ball which Ethan Pinnock headed up rather than out.

Gordon then challenged the defender with the ball falling for Osbourne who spectacularly fired in on the volley.

But the referee pulled the game back after judging Pinnock had been fouled by Gordon.

Barnsley entered the game unbeaten in their last 18 league outings and having kept six consecutive clean sheets.

It was Walsall though who were on top with Keates’ men having two more glorious chances to open the scoring before the 20 minute mark.

First - from a Barnsley corner - Ismail did wonderfully well to beat two men and allow the Saddlers to break at pace.

He then fed Blackett-Taylor who slipped Gordon through on goal. But the striker almost had too much time and fired over when he should have scored.

Then moments later, Ismail again darted down the right before sending in a low cross which Liam Kinsella fired over from 12-yards.

Despite looking dangerous, it wasn’t until midway through the half that Barnsley really threatened with Woodrow twice seeing shots inside the area blocked.

But from that point on the game proved more even with Thiam seeing an effort from 18-yards pushed over the bar by Liam Roberts.

Ismail then darted past Ben Williams before drilling a strike into the side-netting.

But as the two teams made their way off at the break, it was Walsall who had been by far the better team with that final pass or finish the only thing missing from their play.

The early stages of the second proved very even but the Saddlers should have been ahead just past the hour mark.

A deflection allowed Blackett-Taylor to race through on goal with the winger then squeezing the ball past Jack Walton in the Barnsley goal.

But full-back Ben Williams slide it to make an outstanding - and acrobatic - goalline clearance to keep the scores level.

Walsall had another glorious chance just moments later when with Blackett-Taylor again at the heart of a swift counter.

He feed Ismail in the box who beat his marker before flashing a strike past the post.

Incredibly, Walsall continued to pile forward with Gordon and Ismail having two more excellent chances to open the scoring.

First, Leahy sent a clever ball over the top that allowed Gordon to race into the box.

Initially, the striker did well to work himself some space away from Pinnock. But his low drive was then saved Walton.

Then minutes later, Ismail darted towards the box and past his marker to be through on goal.

Walton though was again in the way with the glovesman making an outstanding block to deny the former Bury man.

But in time added on, Barnsley stole the points. After a cross came in from the left, Jacob saw a low strike brilliantly blocked by Dobson.

But the ball fell back to the winger who stabbed it in at the second attempt.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Scarr, Guthre, Leahy, Osbourne, Dobson, Kinsella, Ismail (Ferrier 89), Gordon, Blackett-Taylor.

Subs not used: Dunn, Edwards, Fitzwater, Laird, Coo, Ferrier, Oteh

Barnsley: Walton, Pinnock, Lindsay, McGeehan (Adeboyejo 76), Woodrow, Cavare, Bahre (Styles 68), Thiam (Green 84), Mowatt, Williams, Brown.

Subs not used: Greatorex, Fryers, Jackson, Williams.

Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire)