Walsall 1 Barnsley 3 - Report and pictures

Goals from Ash Fletcher, Josh Brownhill and Harry Chapman – three players who are all on loan with the Tykes – saw Sean O'Driscoll's side ruthlessly dispatched on home turf.

Fletcher opened the scoring against the run of the play before Tom Bradshaw levelled following a first half in which the Saddlers were the better side.

But they started sluggishly after the interval and were punished with Brownhill firing home form 25-yards and Chapman scoring a fine individual goal.

The result means Walsall, who dropped to fourth in League One, are still winless at the Banks's Stadium in 2016.

Boss O'Driscoll made just one change from the side that secured back-to-back goalless draws against Burton Albion and Scunthorpe.

Having produced some impressive cameos from the bench, winger Kieron Morris was recalled at the expense of ex-Tyke Milan Lalkovic with the Saddlers switching to 4-4-1-1 formation.

It meant new recruit Jordy Hiwula had to wait for his second Walsall debut, with the Huddersfield loanee named amongst the substitutes.

For Barnsley, under the caretaker management of former player Paul Heckingbottom, top scorer Sam Winnall missed out with an ankle injury.

The Tykes began the game as the division's form side, with an impressive eight wins from their last 10 games.

But it was the Saddlers who came flying out of the blocks and they came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock inside the first few minutes.

After being played in by Jason Demetriou, Romaine Sawyers fizzed a ferocious cross-come-shot in front of Adam Davies' goal.

But the effort proved just too strong for the on-rushing Bradshaw with the ball then sailing inches wide of the far post.

Walsall had started well and they came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute when Sawyers was fouled on the edge of the box.

Forde stood over the set-play and struck a delightful free-kick which cannoned off the post with Adam Davies beaten.

As had been the case in recent weeks, Walsall were missing that little bit of luck that was evident in the first half of the campaign.

And they were made to pay for their missed chances with with Barnsley going up the other and scoring with their first shot on target.

Ash Fletcher collected the ball 25-yards from goal and produced a fine individual run to twist and turn his way into the box.

The striker then kept his composure to ruthlessly fire the ball past Neil Etheridge and into the bottom corner.

The game was proving a lively affair with the Saddlers almost pulling level when a Sam Mantom ball sent Sawyers galloping away down the right-flank.

His cut-back was met by Bradshaw but the Welshman's shot was too close to Davies who was able to tip it over bar.

Undeterred, the Saddlers continued to press forward. And they eventually did pull themselves level as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark.

After Morris' strike from the edge of the box was blocked, the ball fell to Andy Taylor inside the area with Davies producing a brilliant diving stop to keep the defenders effort out.

It was Bradshaw though who reacted quickest, with the striker calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner for his 16th of the season.

Walsall continued to press for the reminder of the half with Mantom delivering a dangerous low cross and Taylor testing Davies with a 20-yard drive.

But the two teams came off at the break all-square following an entertaining first half.

Barnsley began the brighter after the interval with Heckingbottom's side enjoying a sustained spell of pressure around the Walsall area.

And they should have re-taken the lead when Marc Roberts' long throw caused confusion in the Walsall box.

Fletcher collected the ball, but just yards out, the striker fired wide with the entire goal at his mercy.

Minutes later though and the Tykes were back ahead.

Poor defending saw Walsall fail to clear their lines with the ball failing to Brownhill who lashed a strike into the roof of the net from 25-yards.

It was a fierce hit from the Barnsley midfielder, but one which Etheridge will probably feel he should have saved.

Walsall simply hadn't got going at the start of the second half. And they found themselves further behind six minutes later when Chapman made it 3-1.

After Sawyers lost possession on the edge of the Barnsley area, a swift counter saw Chapman race into the box and hold off a challenge from Paul Downing before sliding the ball under Etheridge.

O'Driscoll responded by making a double change with Hiwula and Lalkovic introduced at the expense of Sawyers and Morris – with Sawyers' substitution greeted with cheers from the home support.

Both teams huffed and puffed for the next 10 minutes before Lalkovic had a golden opportunity to get his side back into the game.

Good work from Hiwula and Taylor saw the ball find Bradshaw in the box with the Saddlers top scorer cutting it back to the ex-Chelsea man who fired straight at Davies when well placed.

O'Driscoll made his third change with Jordan Cook coming on for Bradshaw.

But just moments later the substitute pulled up with hamstring injury, meaning the Saddlers had to play out the remaining 10 minutes a man down.

With the sting taken out of Walsall's game, Barnsley saw out the rest of game comfortably and could have extended their lead when the outstanding Fletcher curled wide late on.

Nevertheless, the Tykes had ran our clear and deserved winners to extend their status as League One's home side.