Barnsley 0 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures
A debut goal from George Evans and a Milan Lalkovic strike saw Walsall get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at Barnsley.
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Evans, who only completed his loan move from Manchester City this morning, capped a hugely promising display with low drive just past the hour mark.
Former Barnsley man Lalkovic then doubled the Saddlers advantage with 20 minutes remaining.
The result means Walsall are still unbeaten on their travels in League One, while Dean Smith's side remain second in League One after Gillingham beat Scunthorpe.
Boss Smith was forced into making a raft of changes for the trip to Oakwell with Neil Etheridge, Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom all ruled out after picking up injuries in the defeat to Chesterfield.
James O'Connor also wasn't fit enough to make the journey with youngster Evans thrown straight into the starting line-up, despite only completing his loan switch from Manchester City on Tuesday morning.
Walsall: MacGillivray, Demetriou, Downing, Preston, Henry, Forde (Morris 78), Evans (Flanagan 84), Chambers, Lalkovic (Cook 84), Sawyers, Bradshaw.
Subs not used: Jezeph, Kinsella, Baxendale, Bakayoko.
Barnsley: Townsend, Wabara, Roberts, Nyatanga, Mawson, Scowen, Jackson (Crowley 60), G. Smith (Harris 46), M. Smith (Wilkinson - 77), Pearson, Winnall.
Subs not used: Bree, Walton, White, Digby.[/breakout]
There were also recalls for Craig MacGillivray, Milan Lalkovic and Anthony Forde as Smith plumped for a 4-1-4-1 formation. For Barnsley, Wolverhampton-born Sam Winnall started up front.
Despite having lost their last four games, Barnsley came flying out of the traps and almost took the lead inside two minutes.
Simeon Jackson's pass took a deflection off Adam Chambers and fell kindly for Winnall but, leaning backwards, the former Wolves man scuffed wide from 14-yards.
The Saddlers knocked the ball around neatly in the opening 15 minutes with talisman Romaine Sawyers particularly seeing a lot of the ball.
But a comfortably saved 25-yard strike from debutant Evans was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock.
The Manchester City youngster seemed keen to make his mark and he went close again with another fizzed effort from distance which sailed just past the post.
Seemingly low on confidence, Barnsley looked to pump balls into the Saddlers box at every opportunity with MacGillivray doing well to punch clear a number of long throws and deep crosses.
But it was Walsall who were showing more attacking endeavour and they came a whisker away from taking the lead when Forde delivered a tantalising cross from the right.
Tom Bradshaw looked to flick the ball towards goal but his strike cannoned off Lewin Nyatanga with the ball sailing past the post with keeper Nick Townsend rooted.
Barnsley hit-back immediately with Winnall stinging the palms of MacGillivray with a 20-yard drive.
And the home side went close again just minutes before the break after a hopeful punt into the box was dropped by MacGillivray.
Michael Smith was the first player to react, but with the keeper standing tall to block the striker scuffed his shot allowing Rico Henry to hack clear.
Johnson made a switch at the break, with George Smith making way for Kadeem Harris.
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And it was the Tykes who had the first chance of the second half with Alfie Mawson heading wide from a corner.
With their half-time instructions, Barnsley were suddenly a much-improved side, with Walsall hugely indebted to goalkeeper MacGillivray for keeping the scores level in the 55th minute.
A whipped in corner was flicked across goal by Marc Roberts towards Nyatanga, with the defender powering a header towards the top corner from six-yards.
But MacGillivray was equal to the effort and brilliantly clawed the ball away from point-blank range.
Walsall's last win at Oakwell had come in 1971 but they took the lead just past the hour mark with a debut goal from Evans.
After collecting the ball in the box, the youngster worked himself enough space to turn and then drilled a low drive into bottom corner leaving Townsend no chance.
Barnsley were almost level within 30 seconds, centre-back Paul Downing with a crucial interception to stop the ball reaching Winnall.
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Then from a corner Nyatanga again escaped his man and powered a header against the crossbar.
But as the clock ticked past the 70 minute mark Walsall doubled their advantage.
A wonderful ball from Sawyers found Lalkovic and the former Chelsea man showed bundles of composure to take the ball into the box and slip it past Townsend.
Smith made his first change shortly after with Kieron Morris coming on for Forde.
And with the home side desperately trying to find a way back into the game, Matt Preston did well to head away a fine Kadeen Harris cross from almost under his own crossbar.
Smith made his second and third changes in the 84th minute with Jordan Cook and Reece Flanagan coming on for Evans and Lalkovic.
Minutes later and it was almost three. Bradshaw seeing a snap shot on the turn blocked by the legs of Townsend.
But despite having to content with four minutes of stoppage time, Walsall saw out the game in relative comfort to make it five wins and two draws from seven away games in League One.
