BURNLEY'S young reserve lost at the Bescot Stadium yesterday afternoon, with their more experienced opponents taking the points with a 3-1 victory.

The only first team experience in Burnley's side came in the shape of Matty O'Neill, having played just 15 minutes against Watford last weekend, whilst Walsall included Jamaican international Fitzroy Simpson, former Real Madrid player Pedro Matias, Australian international David Zdrilic and New Zealand international Danny Hay.

The experience showed in the first half when the Saddlers took a two goal lead. In the eight minute Burnley could only clear a corner as far as Matias, who volleyed sweetly home from around 12 yards, giving James Salisbury no chance.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0 when Matias chipped a ball over the top of the defence and Matthew Fryatt ran through to volley well past Salisbury.

That goal sparked the young Clarets into life and O'Neill did well after 23 minutes to exchange passes with Damien Hindle before curling a shot narrowly over the bar from just outside the area.

Clarets keeper Salisbury was forced to make a great stop in the 31st minute, diving to his right to tip the ball away form the top corner.

After the break Burnley came close to pulling a goal back when Mark Rasmussen managed to whip a cross in from the right that Hindle controlled well before firing wide.

But after the referee judged Brown to have been holding back Rasmussen in the area Hindle stepped up to blast home his 17th goal in all competitions this season.

The Clarets were chasing an equaliser but the game was settled when Walsall broke away to grab a third.

Salisbury had already made a good save from Gary Birch, but when a far post cross missed everyone, midfielder Kris Taylor emphatically finished at the far post to give Walsall their two goal advantage.

Soon after that Burnley were forced into a change when Joel Pilkington was carried off following a nasty clash on the touchline.

For the last 15 minutes, boss Ronnie Jepson introduced under-16s Marc Pugh and Tom Ince to the action in order for them to get some experience.

Walsall: Harris, Wright, Brown, Simpson, Caines, Hay (Bennett, 45) Birch, Taylor, Zdrilic (Paschalis) Fryatt, Matias (Smith, 45)

Burnley: Salisbury, Leeson (Pitham), Scott, Eves, Townsend, Pilkington (Grimes 75) Rasmussen (Ince 75), Waine, Hindle, Chaplow, O'Neill.

WALSALL...3 BURNLEY...1