Team News
Barnsley manager Danny Wilson has a whole host of injury problems to contend with. Ryan Williams has returned to parent club Fulham for treatment on a hernia problem that could require an operation.
Devante Cole has only just resumed training following an illness that forced him to miss the FA Cup tie with Chester, whilst Peter Ramage is likely to miss out after damaging his thigh in that match and being forced off after just 20 minutes.
James Bailey is doubtful with a foot problem and Sam Winnall is definitely out with his hamstring strain.
Last time out - Barnsley Team:
Ross Turnbull
Joe Dudgeon
Martin Cranie
Peter Ramage
Lewin Nyatanga
Kane Hemmings
Connor Hourihane
Luke Berry
Brad Abbott
Leroy Lita
Marcello Trotta
Head to Head
Last Six Walsall v Barnsley results:
6/5/06 Walsall (Dean Keates 59) 1-2 Barnsley (Marc Richards 31, Daniel Nardiello 81) (League One)
17/1/06 Walsall (Michael Leary 68, Kevin James 78) 2-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)
7/1/06 Barnsley (Paul Hayes 77) 1-1 Walsall (Kevin James 74) (FA Cup)
29/10/05 Barnsley (Paul Hayes 13, Brian Howard 66) 2-1 Walsall (Matty Fryatt 63) (League One)
28/3/05 Barnsley (Antony Kay 37, Daniel Nardiello 48, Michael Chopra 80) 3-2 Walsall (Julian Joachim 51, Jorge Leitao 53) (League One)
21/8/04 Walsall (Matty Fryatt 36, Darren Wrack 90) 2-2 Barnsley (Tony Vaughan 16, Barry Conlon 49) (League One)
Overall Record:
Walsall Wins: 14
Barnsley Wins: 14
Draws: 13
Walsall Goals: 67
Barnsley Goals: 64
At Walsall:
Walsall Wins: 10
Barnsley Wins: 4
Draws: 7
Walsall Goals: 42
Barnsley Goals: 29
First Met: Barnsley 1-1 Walsall, Saturday 3rd December 1898. (Second Division)
Biggest Win: Walsall (Paul Hall) 1-4 Barnsley (Mike Sheron 2, Neil Shipperley, Matty Appleby), Saturday 1st April 2000 (Division One) & Barnsley (Mike Sheron 2, Bruce Dyer, Kevin Donovan 4-1 Walsall (Zigor Aranalde), Saturday 8th December 2001 (Division One)
Biggest Defeat: Walsall 5-1 Barnsley, Saturday 21st October 1933, (Third Division North)
Last Home Win: Barnsley (Paul Hayes, Brian Howard) 2-1 Walsall (Matty Fryatt), Saturday 29th October 2005, (League One)
Last Away Win: Walsall (Dean Keates) 1-2 Barnsley (Marc Richards, Daniel Nardiello), Saturday 6th May 2006, (League One)
Last Home Draw: Barnsley (Paul Hayes) 1-1 Walsall (Kevin James), Saturday 7th January 2006, (FA Cup)
Last Away Draw: Walsall (Matty Fryatt, Darren Wrack) 2-2 Barnsley (Tony Vaughan, Barry Conlon), Saturday 21st August 2004, (League One)
Last Home Defeat: Barnsley 0-2 Walsall, Monday 30th January 1984, (League Cup)
Last Away Defeat: Walsall (Michael Leary, Kevin James) 2-0 Barnsley, Tuesday 27th January 2006, (FA Cup)
Last Away Meeting:
Saturday 6th May 2006.
Walsall 1 2 Barnsley
Keates pen 59 Richards 31 Nardiello pen 83
Walsall:
Andy Oakes, Craig Pead, Anthony Gerrard, Pablo Mills, Ian Roper (sent off 78), Daniel Fox, Mark Wright (Ishmel Demontagnac 39), Kris Taylor (Daryl Taylor 45), Dean Keates, Andrew Barrowman (James Constable 68), Kevin James.
Unused substitutes:
Rene Gilmartin, Michael Standing.
Manager: Mark Kinsella.
Barnsley:
Nick Colgan, Dale Tonge, Paul Heckingbottom, Bobby Hassell, Antony Kay, Brian Howard (Robbie Williams 87), Chris Shuker (Anthony McParland 81), Stephen McPhail, Martin Devaney, Marc Richards (Tommy Wright 73), Daniel Nardiello.
Unused substitutes:
Scott Flinders, Barry Conlon.
Manager: Andy Ritchie.
Still at respective clubs:
Walsall: 0
Barnsley: 0
Number of managers since this game (including caretakers):
Walsall: 5 (Richard Money-2006-2008, Jimmy Mullen-2008-2009, John Schofield-2009, Chris Hutchings-2009-2011, Dean Smith-2011-present.
Barnsley: 6 (Simon Davey-2006-2009, Mark Robins-2009-2011, Keith Hill, 2011-2012, David Flitcroft-2012-2013, Micky Mellon-2013, Danny Wilson-2013-present)
This Season:
Last six 2014-2015 results:
Walsall:
9/12/14 Tranmere 2–2 Walsall (Anthony Forde, Michael Cain) (Football League Trophy)
29/11/14 Coventry 0-0 Walsall (League One)
22/11/14 Fleetwood 0-1 Walsall (Romaine Sawyers) (League One)
18/11/14 Shrewsbury 1-0 Walsall (FA Cup)
15/11/14 Walsall 0-0 Peterborough (League One)
12/11/14 Walsall (Romaine Sawyers) 1-0 Sheffield United (Football League Trophy)
W: 2 D: 3 L: 1 F: 4 A: 3 GD: +1 Points: 5 *one win 2 draws in cup.
Barnsley:
7/12/14 Barnsley 0-0 Chester (FA Cup)
2/12/14 Barnsley (Lewin Nyatanga) 1–1 Doncaster (League One)
29/11/14 Barnsley (Marcello Trotta) 1–2 Scunthorpe (League One)
22/11/14 Chesterfield 2–1 Barnsley (Keith Treacy) (League One)
14/11/14 Barnsley (Sam Winnall, Conor Hourihane, Peter Ramage) 3–2 Colchester (League One)
8/11/14 Barnsley (Sam Winnall 3, Conor Hourihane, Devante Cole) 5–0 Burton (FA Cup)
W: 2 D: 2 L: 2 F: 11 A: 7 GD: +4 Points: 4 *one win & one draw in cup.
Interesting Stats:
Barnsley have lost only two of their last six trips to Walsall, winning three.
Home and away The Reds have only suffered defeat once in six clashes and in two of the last 12.
The last visit was a memorable one for Barnsley supporters. Back in May 2006, a 6,000 strong army travelled to the Bescot Stadium to witness goals from Marc Richards and Daniel Nardiello secure The Reds a League One play-off place. They would eventually win promotion in the final three weeks later.
The Reds have only failed to score in one of their last 10 league games at Walsall, stretching back to 1969 and home or away they have scored in nine of the last 10 meetings.
Overall though both sides have 14 wins a piece. A draw on Saturday would also make that 14 too.
Barnsley assistant manager Chris Hutchings makes a return to familiar territory; the 57 year old was Walsall manager between January 2009 and January 2011, winning 31 of his 98 games in charge.
After winning just three of their first 17 games in all competitions Walsall have found some form in recent weeks, they have lost just one of their last nine, winning four.
The Saddlers are one of the draw specialists in the division. Their tally of eight is beaten only by Oldham who have nine.
They have drawn each of their last two league matches and three of the last four.
Walsall have the best defensive record in the division having conceded only 16 goals in their 19 league matches.
However they have only scored 15 times themselves, only Yeovil (14) have scored less.
Despite only winning three times at the Bescot this season Walsall have suffered defeat on their own patch on only two occasions.
They have conceded only five home goals (the best record in League One) but have only scored nine times in front of their own fans (the second worst record)
Indeed Walsall have scored only four goals in their last six games in all competitions with three blanks in that time. They have managed only one goal in their last three league outings.
On This Day:
Walsall:
Played: 10 Won: 4 Drawn: 3 Lost: 3 Scored: 14 Conceded: 12.
Last match on the 13th December: 2011. Walsall 0-0 Dag & Red. Att: 1,802.
Last win: 2003
Last draw: 2011
Last defeat: 2008
STAT! – Walsall have won four of their last six matches on this date but none of the most recent two.
Barnsley:
Played: 14 Won: 4 Drawn: 5 Lost: 5 Scored: 20 Conceded: 23.
Last match on the 13th December: 2008. Wolves 2-0 Barnsley. Att: 22,399.
Last win: 2005
Last draw: 2003
Last defeat: 2008
STAT! – Barnsley have won only one of their last four matches on this date.
Mad Sites:
Official Sites:
Other Fixtures:
Saturday 13th December 2014:
3pm:
Bristol City v Crawley
Chesterfield v Bradford
Colchester v Rochdale
Doncaster v Gillingham
Fleetwood v Sheffield United
Leyton Orient v Peterborough
Notts County v Swindon
Oldham v Yeovil
Port Vale v Coventry
Preston v MK Dons
Scunthorpe v Crewe