Barnsley fell to a fourth successive League One defeat with one of their former players scoring for Walsall in a 2-0 win at Oakwell.
Milan Lalkovic, who left the club in the summer, secured the win for the visitors on 70 minutes after George Evans had given them the lead eight minutes earlier.
Lee Johnson again went for a wing-back formation but this time played Simeon Jackson up front with Michael Smith and Sam Winnall playing just behind.
Winnall had the first chance of the game after linking up well with Jackson. But Winnall could not get his effort on target.
Walsall then threatened with Lalkovic teeing up Evans for a strike from 20 yards out.
George Smith was replaced by Kadeem Harris for the second half. Lewin Nyatanga went to left-back and Harris was placed in front of him.
Barnsley started the second period much better.
First Ben Pearson, after picking up a booking which rules him out of Saturday's match against Fleetwood, volleyed on goal.
From the resulting corner, Marc Roberts powered a header which Nyatanga flicked towards goal to produce a reaction stop from Craig Macgillivray.
But just as Barnsley were building momentum they were sucker punched by Evans who turned in the opener on 62 minutes.
Nyatanga almost got an instant reply but his header struck the bar.
Lalkovic then dealt the finishing blow on 70 minutes after being picked out by the impressive Romaine Sawyers.
Barnsley: Townsend, Wabara, Roberts, Mawson, Nyatanga, G Smith (Harris HT), Pearson, Scowen, Jackson (Crowley 61), M Smith (Wilkinson 77), Winnall.
Unused subs: Walton, Bree, White, Digby.
Attendance: 8,561.
