Barnsley 1 Walsall 1
Walsall are in the hat for today's FA Cup fourth round draw because they signed three quality players in time to make their debuts in this entertaining tie.
Some fans had called for manager Paul Merson's head after another dismal away defeat by Bristol City five days earlier, and the Tykes must have been cheered when they heard top-scorer Matty Fryatt - expected to join Leicester City today - was injured and Jorge Leitao had returned to Portugal.
But they were shaken by the way the Saddlers set about the task in the first half, with loan stars Kevin James, Mads Timm and Michael Leary all performing impressively.
As early as the third minute James demonstrated his explosive pace through the middle, and this time the fans knew they were going to get value for money and responded by giving the team tremendous backing.
Merson has been promised all the cash made from the cup run, with former Blues striker Paul Devlin one target if club owner Jeff Bonser approves a deal to bring him in from Watford on an 18-month contract today.
Walsall have a big home game with Colchester United, the surprise team of League One, next Saturday before trying to complete the the cup job by beating Barnsley in the replay a week tomorrow.
And Merson warned: "We hold the advantage because of our home record, but I am not thinking we are through now, because there is plenty of hard work to be done yet.
"It was an outstanding performance today. The lads all worked their socks off and played plenty of good football, too. We deserved at least a draw".
One major surprise when the team was announced came with the realisation that Julian Bennett was in the team.
A day earlier he had been ruled out because of an impending transfer to Nottingham Forest, but when Merson discovered the deal had not yet gone through, he was keen to include the young defender.
Bennett expressed his own desire to play and was given a role on the left side of midfield which he performed admirably, contributing greatly to the overall team effort.
In the first half 21-year-old Timm showed why he is so highly rated by Manchester United, although he has been starved of action for some weeks.
His touch and vision were outstanding, and even though he tired in the second half he thrilled the travelling fans with one piece of exceptional skill when he deftly controlled a cross from James before striking a shot that Nick Colgan did well to keep out.
Back in action for the first time since September, Walsall goalkeeper Andy Oakes made several fine saves, including one remarkable tip over the bar in the 37th minute when a Robbie Williams free-kick took a wicked deflection and looked goal-bound.
The big keeper looked slightly to blame for Barnsley's equaliser when his punch failed to clear the area and Paul Hayes was on hand to accept a simple chance.
Just three minutes earlier the Saddlers had gone in front with a fine goal, Mark Wright delivering the perfectly weighted pass for James to outpace the home defence and beat the advancing Nick Colgan with a firm low drive.
Once the Tykes were level, however, they looked capable of going on to win the tie, but with Ian Roper and Anthony Gerrard in commanding form at the back, Merson's men survived.
Barnsley manager Andy Ritchie was satisfied with the draw, and said: "In the first half, Walsall were quicker to the ball. But their goal had a charmed life in the second half and we deserved the draw."
