Match ends, Walsall 1, Barnsley 3.
WalsallWalsall1BarnsleyBarnsley3
Walsall's League One promotion hopes took another blow as in-form Barnsley left them without a win in six games.
After Anthony Forde's free-kick had hit the post, the visitors went up the other end to seize a 17th-minute lead through Ash Fletcher's low effort.
Walsall top scorer Tom Bradshaw poked in to level by half-time for the hosts.
But Barnsley then scored twice in six minutes, Josh Brownhill's dipping drive beating Neil Etheridge before Harry Chapman sealed it with a low drive.
The Saddlers, who have now failed to win in six home games at Bescot since the turn of the year, sit fourth in the table, five points behind second-placed Wigan.
Barnsley's 11th win in 13 league games lifts them up into the play-off zone into sixth, after leapfrogging over Coventry City, who are three points behind.
Walsall head coach Sean O Driscoll told BBC WM:
"A disappointing result. They're a really good team. If you give them two goals it's going to be difficult for you.
"First half, we were excellent. We were the best team. Their goalkeeper's kept them in it and they scored against the run of play.
"We got back into the game, created chances and came in at half time extremely confident that we could go on and win."
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Etheridge
- 2Demetriou
- 6Downing
- 4O'Connor
- 3Taylor
- 12Forde
- 7Chambers
- 8Mantom
- 18MorrisSubstituted forLalkovicat 66'minutes
- 10SawyersSubstituted forHiwula-Mayifuilaat 66'minutes
- 9BradshawSubstituted forCookat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 13MacGillivray
- 14Henry
- 15Lalkovic
- 16Preston
- 21Cook
- 27Morris
- 31Hiwula-Mayifuila
Barnsley
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Davies
- 6ConnollyBooked at 79mins
- 26Mawson
- 4Roberts
- 22Williams
- 34IsgroveSubstituted forScowenat 81'minutes
- 11Brownhill
- 8Hourihane
- 32ChapmanSubstituted forTutonat 90'minutes
- 18FletcherSubstituted forKhanat 90+7'minutes
- 15Watkins
Substitutes
- 3Smith
- 5Nyatanga
- 7Scowen
- 12McCourt
- 13Townsend
- 19Khan
- 25Tuton
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
- Attendance:
- 5,199
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamBarnsley
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home1
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Barnsley 3.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Otis Khan replaces Ashley Fletcher.
Post update
Attempt saved. Anthony Forde (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Hand ball by Shaun Tuton (Barnsley).
Post update
Attempt saved. Andy Taylor (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Shaun Tuton replaces Harry Chapman.
Post update
Hand ball by Josh Brownhill (Barnsley).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ashley Fletcher (Barnsley) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Josh Scowen replaces Lloyd Isgrove.
Booking
Callum Connolly (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Callum Connolly (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Jordan Cook replaces Tom Bradshaw.
Post update
Attempt saved. Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marc Roberts (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila replaces Romaine Sawyers.
