Barnsley have not won in five matches after a 3-1 loss at Walsall on Saturday left them just three points off the relegation zone.

Lewin Nyatanga headed the Reds in front on 29 minutes but Walsall were 2-1 up five minutes later after a stunning Jordan Cook strike and a good finish by Tom Bradshaw following poor Barnsley defending. Cook got the third deep into injury-time to leave Barnsley in 15th place, seven points off the top six.

Danny Wilson made four changes to the side that was held by non-league Chester in the FA Cup six days earlier. Injuries to Peter Ramage and Joe Dudgeon meant Mason Holgate and Reece Brown returned to the side. Devante Cole recovered from illness to replace Leroy Lita up front while Kane Hemmings dropped to the bench and his place was taken by Dale Jennings.

After the first 29 minutes were extremely dull with just a few wayward long-range efforts from both sides, there were three goals in quick succession. Nyatanga got his second goal in two matches when he brilliantly headed Conor Hourihane's left side corner into the right side of the net from ten yards out.

But it was 1-1 two minutes later when Michael Cain's right side corner travelled across the Barnsley box and was brilliantly smashed into the top right corner by Cook from 18 yards.The Reds were then carved open as Walsall found themselves two on one and Cook passed to Bradshaw who beat Ross Turnbull to put the Saddlers in front.

It could have been four goals in six minutes as Marcello Trotta was played through on the right of the box but his shot from a tight angle was kept out by the legs of Walsall goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell.

The hosts began the second half on top and James Baxendale's low 25-yard shot forced a good save from Turnbull who then clawed a cross from the same player out of the top right corner. Barnsley then fought back with O'Donnell having to save from Hourihane who was put through on the left of the box by Cole and from Jennings whose 25-yard low effort was tipped around the left post.

The disjointed Reds failed to create any more real chances and were dealt a blow when Nyatanga limped off and was replaced by 17-year-old debutant Jack Cowgill.The third goal came after 94 minutes when Walsall were allowed to pass a corner into the six-yard box to former Barnsley trialist Matthieu Manset who set up Cook to fire in.

Turnbull; Holgate, Cranie, Nyatanga (Cowgill,78mins), Brown; Berry, Abbott (Hemmings 77), Hourihane, Jennings, Cole, Trotta (Lita 62)