On Saturday afternoon, Sean O'Driscoll's Saddlers took on Barnsley in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our match report below.
Walsall got us under way, they swiftly lost possession though, allowing Chapman to break and Williams to win the visitors first corner of the game. The flag kick was taken by Hourihane and the ball was headed wide by Watkins at the near post.
Walsall wasted no time in creating a chance of their own, with Demetriou doing well to find Sawyers, whose cross-come-shot whizzed across goal, his teammates unable to get anything on the ball to turn it goal-wards. Good early play from the Saddlers.
The match continued apace, with neither side able to create anything, but with both exhibiting some good midfield control.
Eleven minutes into the game, a Demetriou stray pass allowed Hourihane a shot at goal from twenty yards out, his left footed shot sailed safely over the bar. A let off for Demetriou and his Saddlers side.
A busy Hourihane was again involved in the action, when fourteen minutes in, he was guilty of giving away a free-kick for a foul. Forde stepped up to take the kick from twenty yards out, his shot hit the post and bounced back out. So close to finding the opening goal.
Four minutes later, Barnsley were more successful in their hunt for the opening goal, as Fletcher picked up the ball twenty-five yards out and following a skilful run into the box, slotted the ball passed Etheridge, into the bottom corner.
The Saddlers looked to respond quickly, with Kieron Morris flicking the ball cleverly to Romaine Sawyers, who in turn passed to Sam Mantom, who scuffed his shot.
With twenty-two minutes on the clock, Barnsley enjoyed another chance on goal, a Hourihane corner allowing Mawson a shot on goal, his glancing header sailed wide without troubling Etheridge.
Twenty-eight minutes in, Walsall came close to finding an equaliser with Mantom setting Sawyers away down the right; Romaine set up Bradshaw, whose shot was tipped over the bar by Davies. A fabulous chance for the Saddlers and an excellent save to deny them.
It took just a minute for Bradshaw to enjoy another chance to level the scores, this time successfully turning the ball home from a tricky angle, when he reacted quickly to a parried Taylor shot.
The first substitution of the match came in the thirty-eighth minute, with the referee picking up an injury and being replaced in the centre by his assistant.
Shortly before half-time, the Saddlers had a chance to take the lead, some lovely build-up play allowed Taylor a shot on goal, his effort fell straight to the waiting Davies, who gathered well.
Four minutes of added time were called, following the two goals and the injury to the referee, but neither side were able to make use of them, with the scores remaining level, one apiece, at the break.
During half-time, the crowd were treated to a visit from Andy Rammell, Chris Marsh and John Hodge, who brought back fond memories for many in attendance.
The sides remained unchanged as Barnsley got the second half underway. The first chance of the half fell to the visitors, a long throw from Roberts, allowing Fletcher to send an effort in from six yards, the ball sailing just wide. A huge let off for the Saddlers.
It took just five minutes for Barnsley to re-take the lead. Brownhill able to fire the ball, over Etheridge and into the roof of the net from twenty-five yards.
The Saddlers struggled to get going in the second half, and six minutes after conceeding the first goal of the half, they conceeded a second. A fabulous run from the halfway line from Chapman, who took the ball all the way and slotted home from a tight angle under pressure. An excellent start to the half from the visitors but two very disappointing goals for the Saddlers to concede.
Shortly after the goal, Kieron Morris collided with Neil Etheridge in the box and required lengthy treatment from the physio and doctor. He was eventually able to continue, but was replaced just a few minutes later. Sawyers also made way as Milan Lalkovic and the recently arrived, Jordy Hiwula were introduced into the game.
The half continued largely as it began, with Barnsley enjoying a lot of possession in midfield and being afforded opportunities to get forward. Luckily for the Saddlers, the Tykes were unable to make use of their time on the ball.
It took until the seventy-seventh minute for Walsall to create a chance in the second half. Bradshaw did well to cut the ball back to Lalkovic, but Milan could only send the ball straight to the waiting 'keeper.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Walsall opted to introduce their third substitute as Cook came on in place of Bradshaw.
In the eighty-first minute, Callum Connolly was the first man added to the referee's book. The incident largely overshadowed by an injury to Cook, which ultimately saw the recently introduced man limp from the pitch. Walsall forced to play out the final minutes with ten men.
Barnsley took the opportunity of the break in play, to introduce some fresh legs, Scowen replacing Isgrove.
The final minutes of the half were a fairly timid affair. Fletcher, on loan at Barnsley from Manchester United, demonstrated some exceptional skills, but his only real chance on goal didn't test Etheridge as it went wide.
Three minutes shy of the ninety, Walsall had a chance to claw a goal back, a handball by Scowen gifting the Saddlers a free-kick in a dangerous area. Lalkovic took the kick, but his shot was fired straight at Davies.
The Tykes made their second substitution, with Tuton replacing Chapman, as seven minutes of added time was called.
The additional time passed much as the second half did, with Barnsley doing well to keep possession and offering the Saddlers little chance to get back into the game.
In the ninety-sixth minute, Forde was able to send in a shot from distance which was held by Davies.
The Tykes introduced their final substitute with seconds on the clock, Fletcher leaving the field in place of Khan. Barnsley doing enough to see out the game with their 3-1 lead in tact.
Walsall wasted no time in creating a chance of their own, with Demetriou doing well to find Sawyers, whose cross-come-shot whizzed across goal, his teammates unable to get anything on the ball to turn it goal-wards. Good early play from the Saddlers.
The match continued apace, with neither side able to create anything, but with both exhibiting some good midfield control.
Eleven minutes into the game, a Demetriou stray pass allowed Hourihane a shot at goal from twenty yards out, his left footed shot sailed safely over the bar. A let off for Demetriou and his Saddlers side.
A busy Hourihane was again involved in the action, when fourteen minutes in, he was guilty of giving away a free-kick for a foul. Forde stepped up to take the kick from twenty yards out, his shot hit the post and bounced back out. So close to finding the opening goal.
Four minutes later, Barnsley were more successful in their hunt for the opening goal, as Fletcher picked up the ball twenty-five yards out and following a skilful run into the box, slotted the ball passed Etheridge, into the bottom corner.
The Saddlers looked to respond quickly, with Kieron Morris flicking the ball cleverly to Romaine Sawyers, who in turn passed to Sam Mantom, who scuffed his shot.
With twenty-two minutes on the clock, Barnsley enjoyed another chance on goal, a Hourihane corner allowing Mawson a shot on goal, his glancing header sailed wide without troubling Etheridge.
Twenty-eight minutes in, Walsall came close to finding an equaliser with Mantom setting Sawyers away down the right; Romaine set up Bradshaw, whose shot was tipped over the bar by Davies. A fabulous chance for the Saddlers and an excellent save to deny them.
It took just a minute for Bradshaw to enjoy another chance to level the scores, this time successfully turning the ball home from a tricky angle, when he reacted quickly to a parried Taylor shot.
The first substitution of the match came in the thirty-eighth minute, with the referee picking up an injury and being replaced in the centre by his assistant.
Shortly before half-time, the Saddlers had a chance to take the lead, some lovely build-up play allowed Taylor a shot on goal, his effort fell straight to the waiting Davies, who gathered well.
Four minutes of added time were called, following the two goals and the injury to the referee, but neither side were able to make use of them, with the scores remaining level, one apiece, at the break.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | HALF TIME
WALSALL 1 BARNSLEY 1
During half-time, the crowd were treated to a visit from Andy Rammell, Chris Marsh and John Hodge, who brought back fond memories for many in attendance.
The sides remained unchanged as Barnsley got the second half underway. The first chance of the half fell to the visitors, a long throw from Roberts, allowing Fletcher to send an effort in from six yards, the ball sailing just wide. A huge let off for the Saddlers.
It took just five minutes for Barnsley to re-take the lead. Brownhill able to fire the ball, over Etheridge and into the roof of the net from twenty-five yards.
The Saddlers struggled to get going in the second half, and six minutes after conceeding the first goal of the half, they conceeded a second. A fabulous run from the halfway line from Chapman, who took the ball all the way and slotted home from a tight angle under pressure. An excellent start to the half from the visitors but two very disappointing goals for the Saddlers to concede.
Shortly after the goal, Kieron Morris collided with Neil Etheridge in the box and required lengthy treatment from the physio and doctor. He was eventually able to continue, but was replaced just a few minutes later. Sawyers also made way as Milan Lalkovic and the recently arrived, Jordy Hiwula were introduced into the game.
The half continued largely as it began, with Barnsley enjoying a lot of possession in midfield and being afforded opportunities to get forward. Luckily for the Saddlers, the Tykes were unable to make use of their time on the ball.
It took until the seventy-seventh minute for Walsall to create a chance in the second half. Bradshaw did well to cut the ball back to Lalkovic, but Milan could only send the ball straight to the waiting 'keeper.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Walsall opted to introduce their third substitute as Cook came on in place of Bradshaw.
In the eighty-first minute, Callum Connolly was the first man added to the referee's book. The incident largely overshadowed by an injury to Cook, which ultimately saw the recently introduced man limp from the pitch. Walsall forced to play out the final minutes with ten men.
Barnsley took the opportunity of the break in play, to introduce some fresh legs, Scowen replacing Isgrove.
The final minutes of the half were a fairly timid affair. Fletcher, on loan at Barnsley from Manchester United, demonstrated some exceptional skills, but his only real chance on goal didn't test Etheridge as it went wide.
Three minutes shy of the ninety, Walsall had a chance to claw a goal back, a handball by Scowen gifting the Saddlers a free-kick in a dangerous area. Lalkovic took the kick, but his shot was fired straight at Davies.
The Tykes made their second substitution, with Tuton replacing Chapman, as seven minutes of added time was called.
The additional time passed much as the second half did, with Barnsley doing well to keep possession and offering the Saddlers little chance to get back into the game.
In the ninety-sixth minute, Forde was able to send in a shot from distance which was held by Davies.
The Tykes introduced their final substitute with seconds on the clock, Fletcher leaving the field in place of Khan. Barnsley doing enough to see out the game with their 3-1 lead in tact.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 | RESULT
WALSALL 1 BARNSLEY 3
GOALS | Bradshaw (28') - Fletcher 17', Brownhill 50', Chapman 56'ATTENDANCE | 5,199 (901 Barnsley)
REFEREE | Mr. Gavin Ward | Surrey