Summary

  • Brownhill makes it 3-1 on the night

  • Cook curls in consolation for Walsall

  • Hammill and Fletcher extend Tykes' lead

  • Walsall were 10 pts above Tykes in table

  • Millwall or Bradford await in the final

  1. KICK-OFFpublished at 0 mins

    Walsall 0-0 Barnsley

    In case you hadn't gathered, no-one has ever done what Walsall are trying to do tonight - overturn a three-goal deficit in the play-offs.

    The Saddlers have a group huddle and Barnsley get us under way.

  2. Postpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    The players are on their way out at the Banks's Stadium. Even though their team face a mountain to climb, the Saddlers fans are right behind their side.

    Walsall fansImage source, Rex Features
  3. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcfootballpublished at 19:42 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Football League proposals

    AFC WimbeldonImage source, Getty Images

    Earlier this evening, it was revealed that English football could be heading for a significant shake-up.

    The Football League wants to create an extra division with 20 teams in each from 2019-20, saying the move would tackle fixture congestion and boost the finances of its members.

    So, what do you think of these proposals? Would they be good or bad for your club?

    Get involved via #bbcfootball and let us know what you think!

  4. Postpublished at 19:40 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Paul Heckingbottom and Sam WinnallImage source, Rex Features

    "What do you want me to do tonight, gaffer? Play in the hole, on the shoulder, link up play..."

    "Just score, Sam."

    *Disclaimer* Not the actual conversation between Barnsley caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom and top-scorer Sam Winnall.

  5. Barnsley team newspublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Visitors Barnsley are unchanged for their fifth straight game, naming the same starting XI that won the first leg.

    Caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom's squad remains free from injury.

    Barnsley: Davies, Williams, Mawson, Roberts, Scowen, Hammill, Hourihane, Brownhill, Isgrove, Winnall, Fletcher.

    Subs: Townsend, White, Toney, McCourt, Chapman, Tuton, Nyatanga.

  6. Walsall team newspublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Following Saturday's chastening defeat, Walsall's interim head coach Jon Whitney makes three changes to his side, bringing in Andy Taylor, Sam Mantom and pacy forward Jordy Hiwula.

    Anthony Forde, Kieron Morris and Milan Lalkovic all drop to the bench in their place.

  7. So near, so farpublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Derby CountyImage source, Getty Images

    As mentioned earlier (19:25), Jon Whitney's Walsall can take real heart from Derby's performance against Hull on Tuesday, after Darren Wassall's side were trying to overturn the same first-leg scoreline.

    The Rams may have come up just short, losing 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-0 win on the night, but showed making play-off history by coming back from a three-goal deficit may not be as unattainable as some may think.

  8. Postpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Ged Scott
    BBC Sport at the Banks's Stadium

    "It really is going to be a wet night in Walsall"

    The Banks's StadiumImage source, Ged Scott
  9. Winning Winnall at Wembley?published at 19:29 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    Ashley Fletcher and Sam WinnallImage source, Getty Images

    Sam Winnall, on the right here, was Barnsley's two-goal hero on Saturday and set up the other.

    The striker is pretty familiar to that winning Wembley feeling as he was part of the Tykes side to defeat Oxford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy earlier this year.

    And if the South Yorkshire club were to reach the final and go up to the Championship, they would become the first side since Grimsby Town in 1998 to do the double of winning promotion via the play-offs and lifting the Football League Trophy in the same season.

  10. Trip to the dentist?published at 19:27 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45

    Barnsley v WalsallImage source, Rex Features

    Walsall may have finished three places above Barnsley in third but were swept away by the South Yorkshire club in the first leg.

    But they have recent history of winning big. On the final day of the regular season, Jon Whitney's team brushed aside Port Vale 5-0 for their biggest win for more than five years.

    And in the build up to this match, Whitney has given a Churchillian-like teamtalk to his players.

    "It's just about making sure you're right for a battle, not a football match," he told BBC WM 95.6.

    "It's about going out and getting kicked in the teeth, getting up and kicked in the teeth again, but then trying to coming back from it, sitting down at the end, completely spent, but knowing I did my all."

  11. Welcomepublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

    Walsall v Barnsley, 19:45 BST

    BarnsleyImage source, Rex Features

    It's just a foregone conclusion, isn't it? 

    No side has ever overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit since the play-offs' inception in 1987.

    So Barnsley's 3-0 first-leg victory over Walsall has surely booked the Tykes a place at Wembley for the second time this season, right?

    Not if the Saddlers have anything to say about it, and as we almost saw from Derby on Tuesday it isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

    Welcome to our live text of Thursday's League One play-off semi-final second leg.