A crowd of 4,965 (905 away fans) was in attendance for an early start at the Banks’s in a crucial game at both ends of the table.
The game started with the Saddlers on the front foot. Osbourne had a cracking goal disallowed and both Gordon and Kinsella blasted good chances over the bar. Ismail, in particular, was having a fantastic game and was skipping past the full-back for fun.
The visiting Tykes rarely threatened Roberts in the home goal but he was called into action in the 34th minute with a fine finger-tip save.
Walsall continued to dominate the game in the second half. Blackett-Taylor was now looking very dangerous indeed and in the 62nd minute saw his shot half saved by the keeper and then somehow cleared off the line by a covering defender.
The Saddlers sensed a goal was coming and it certainly would have if it wasn’t for the Barnsley keeper, Walton. He made further crucial saves from Gordon and Ismail to keep his side in it.
As time ticked down, Walsall brought on Ferrier for a limping Ismail. Then….
GOAL! Late in injury time, Barnsley exploited the space left by Ismail, attacking down their left. Brown eventually touched home a cross to send the away fans delirious.
It was a real hammer blow for the home team. Cook came on for Osbourne in the dying seconds but the Saddlers slipped to their third defeat on the bounce.
The gaffer was obviously disappointed afterwards. He rightly said that we were by far the better team and were let down by bad luck and some poor finishing.