Barnsley's incredible run continued as they moved level on points with sixth placed Doncaster Rovers after comfortably outclassing Walsall at Oakwell yesterday.
Reds Head Coach Lee Johnson stuck with the same side that had beaten Coventry City 1-0 at Oakwell on Tuesday, with in form George Waring continuing as the lone striker with John O'Sullivan and Milan Lalkovic on the wings.
After a bright start from the visitors in which they forced two quick-succession corners, the Reds really settled into the game and were comfortably on top throughout.
Lalkovic forced a chance for Hourihane but the Irishman fired straight at Saddlers keeper Richard O'Donnell, but not long after the Reds were to take a 15th minute lead.
The new corner routine paid dividends again, with red shirts darting into the box, Hourihane's delivery was spot on, straight onto the head of that man Waring, who powered it past O'Donnell.
Waring went close once more not long after. O'Sullivan showed fine trickery to pick a cross, but Waring's shot was narrowly wide of the righr hand post.
So a fairly uneventful first half came to a close, and the visitors made two changes, hauling off Ben Purkiss, who was given a torrid time down the left by Lalkovic, and also midfielder James Baxendale was surrendered, James O'Connor and Ashley Grimes deputising.
And in all fairness, it really didn't spur on Walsall, who were extremely poor. It's actually nice to say that about a visitor to Oakwell, usually it's the other way around! But they did have their best chance of the game when Jordy Hiwula lobbed a shot wide, at the other end, Waring was within inches of meeting a Hourihane free-kick.
With half an hour to play, Lee Johnson introduced Sam Winnall for Lalkovic, who never stopped all game. Shortly after, the Reds doubled their lead and put the game to bed.
O'Sullivan was tripped on the Reds left, but referee Stuart Attwell played a good advantage as the ball had fallen to Waring's feet. He jinked into the box, produced a lovely step over before firing left footed into the bottom corner. What a lovely lovely goal.
It was exhibition time for the Reds now and O'Sullivan went extremely close to a third after darting inside and thumping a shot just over the bar. Jabo Ibehre was introduced for his debut, replacing two goal hero Waring, who received a fantastic ovation from the Oakwell faithful.
O'Donnell saved another O'Sullivan drive before the icing was well and truly put onto the top of the Reds' cake.
Again it was the on loan Blackburn man O'Sullivan causing havoc down the left. He raced past O'Connor, cut infield, to the byline before squaring the ball to Sam Winnall, who swept a delightful left-footed shot into the corner to cap off a wonderful sunny Saturday at Oakwell.
So the Reds have won their fifth game on the spin, and kept clean sheets in each game. Only the second time in their history this has ever happened, the last time being back in 1955.
Lee Johnson's Red & White Army!!
Player Ratings
Adam Davies: A complete spectator. Never had a meaningful save to make. Another clean sheet for him though! 6
Mason Holgate: What a player this kid is. Skilful and reads the game extremely well for one so young. Let's not sell him for £2.2m because we don't know how good he is! 8
Martin Cranie: Dealt with the Walsall attack with barely any trouble. 7
Lewin Nyatanga: Again, didn't have a lot to do. Won nearly every header and only one scuffed clearance! 7
George Smith: Another class display from young Smith. Same as Holgate, reads the game very well from left-back. Great to see such a display from the young lad. 7
John O'Sullivan: Ran riot down the wings and was the chief assister for the second and third goals. Would have loved to have got him permanently. 8
Ben Pearson: A bit of a scruffy display from Pearson. Gave the ball away too much but was taken off due to feeling unwell. 6
Josh Scowen: What a find. Never gives in, another terrier-like performance. This lad is definitely the player we had been missing. 7
Conor Hourihane: Put in some delightful deliveries from set pieces and played well in central midfield. Needs a goal to restore his confidence in front of goal. 7
Milan Lalkovic: Never gave Walsall a moment's peace. Tricky down the left and closed down well. 7
George Waring: Fantastic from big George. Two good goals, particularly the second and was great in the air. Can see him and Winnall being a good partnership up top. 9
Subs:
James Bailey (for Pearson, 57): Came on and broke up the play well. He seems to have turned a bit of a corner. 7
Sam Winnall (for Lalkovic, 63): God it was good to see him back! Same old Sam, chasing everything down and capped it all off with a fine strike. :) 7
Jabo Ibehre (for Waring, 79): We got to see 10 minutes of Jabo and he looked quite rusty. Probably signed just to be an impact sub, and one would think LJ wanted to give Waring his ovation. 6
Unused: Dibble, Berry, M'Voto, Jennings.
Walsall: O'Donnell, Purkiss (O'Connor 46), J.Chambers, Downing, Taylor, A.Chambers, Flanagan (Cain 67), Baxendale (Grimes 46), Sawyers, Hiwula, Bradshaw.
Unused Subs: MacGillivray, Preston, Mantom, Bakayoko.
Walsall MOTM: Jordy Hiwula. The only real threat for the away side, and went closest to scoring.