Match ends, Walsall 3, Barnsley 1.
WalsallWalsall3BarnsleyBarnsley1
Jordan Cook's brace helped Walsall come from behind to beat Barnsley.
Lewin Nyatanga put the visitors in front as he rose unmarked to firmly head in Connor Hourihane's corner.
The Saddlers were soon level as Cook scored a magnificent half-volley from the edge of the area and then took the lead when Tom Bradshaw drilled home.
Barnsley piled on the pressure after the break but home keeper Richard O'Donnell kept them at bay before Cook fired in his second in stoppage time.
The win stretched mid-table Walsall's unbeaten run to six league games, while Barnsley have not won in five.
Barnsley manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"Quite honestly, I don't think there was anything between the teams.
"We got our nose in front, they scored a worldie goal for an equaliser, the second one was obviously a mistake which you sometimes get in games and then basically it was nearly all us.
"We've had opportunities, we've had great situations which we frittered away.
"We need to regroup and get everybody together because at the moment, particularly with the changes in the team and personnel we've had to have in the past few weeks, it's unsettling people."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 1O'Donnell
- 2Purkiss
- 6Downing
- 15Chambers
- 25Henry
- 11BaxendaleSubstituted forFordeat 68'minutes
- 12Cain
- 7Chambers
- 21Cook
- 10Sawyers
- 9BradshawBooked at 10minsSubstituted forMansetat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 4O'Connor
- 13MacGillivray
- 14Benning
- 17Flanagan
- 24Grimes
- 27Forde
- 37Manset
Barnsley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Turnbull
- 27Holgate
- 4BerryBooked at 90mins
- 5NyatangaSubstituted forCowgillat 79'minutes
- 2Brown
- 6CranieBooked at 74mins
- 17AbbottBooked at 48minsSubstituted forHemmingsat 77'minutes
- 8Hourihane
- 11Jennings
- 31TrottaSubstituted forLitaat 62'minutes
- 44Cole
Substitutes
- 7Treacy
- 10Hemmings
- 12Davies
- 14Digby
- 23Boakye-Yiadom
- 28Cowgill
- 33Lita
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 4,433
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamBarnsley
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 3, Barnsley 1.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 3, Barnsley 1. Jordan Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mathieu Manset following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Martin Cranie.
Booking
Luke Berry (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Michael Cain (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Luke Berry (Barnsley).
Post update
Ben Purkiss (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dale Jennings (Barnsley).
Post update
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Michael Cain (Walsall).
Post update
Leroy Lita (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Anthony Forde (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Reece Brown (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Mathieu Manset replaces Tom Bradshaw.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jack Cowgill.
Post update
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Luke Berry (Barnsley).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kane Hemmings (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Jack Cowgill replaces Lewin Nyatanga because of an injury.
