Walsall 1 Swindon 1 - Analysis

They say a week is a long time in football. So six months, or 189 days, must be a lifetime to the Saddlers. The Banks's Stadium curse goes on, the luckless hosts unable to find the magical three points to spark celebrations in WS1.

Long-suffering supporters have to wait another eight days for the next chance of redemption against Huddersfield after the Saddlers' latest home effort ended in failure.

There was no better time to end the hoodoo than after their electric start against Swindon, courtesy of Troy Deeney's third goal in two games.

Billy Paynter, who had already missed one penalty, levelled from the spot after Mark Hughes' handball to dash the Saddlers' hopes.

No matter what, home pressures are affecting the players. At Essington last week one member of staff admitted so.

It begs the question, why? Why is there a mental block when points have been accrued on the road at Scunthorpe, MK Dons, Brighton and Norwich?

Expectation levels around the Banks's aren't unduly high. The fans are realistic enough to know the constraints the Saddlers work under.

Then perhaps it is the apathy which is affecting the players. The Banks's has been devoid of atmosphere so far this season – with the exception of Leeds' visit.

The atmosphere has been nothing short of pitiful and it is no surprise the players raised their game in the cauldron atmosphere on a balmy August night against United.

Chief executive Roy Whalley's pleas for togetherness fell on deaf ears, as fans claimed emotional blackmail.

But it's a vicious circle. If supporters don't attend, the club miss out on much-needed cash. That cash cannot be used to strengthen, the club may not improve and supporters remain disgruntled with the lack of progress.

The Saddlers are a frustrating illustration of promise. They looked set to dismiss Swindon as a minor inconvenience but instead lost their way. They have been doing half a job recently. Keeping clean sheets but firing blanks at the other end.

On Saturday, despite a goal, the job was left half done. The Robins were there for the taking, three points begging to be had, but the Saddlers couldn't find the tools to finish them off.

They may claim referee David Webb denied them victory, but had they taken their chances then the official's intervention would not have mattered.

After a first half which should have been more devastating than promising, they rode their luck and could have lost.

An astonishing miss from Paynter and his first penalty slip should have sunk the Saddlers, but they extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Granted there is only one win in that run, but it proves the Saddlers are a tough nut to crack. A team who won't shirk a challenge or back down.

It left Chris Hutchings stressing the extension of the unbeaten run, and so he should.

It is 18 games since the Saddlers embarked on similar form and they are better prepared than ever before.

There is evidence of a team forming. For weeks they have been solid at the back and, although two games shouldn't be a marker, they are starting to create and score again.

There is also a modicum of strength within the squad. Clayton Ince and Rhys Weston – two very competent players – are struggling to play while Manny Smith is sidelined with a knee injury.

It is a luxury Walsall are rarely afforded and something they need, after Clayton McDonald and Deeney both limped out on Saturday.

Initial reports suggest the pair will make a swift recovery and they will be needed for the long trip to Hartlepool on Saturday, such is their importance.

The pair did their best to end the home drought as the hosts ripped into Swindon. The Robins were desperately hanging on as early as the fifth minute, when Deeney could have scored twice.

He was denied by David Lucas after 11 seconds and then shot wide before the goal came after eight minutes as Sean Morrison dallied and Deeney didn't.

While he took the scoring plaudits, it was Alex Nicholls who deserves much of the credit for tearing Swindon apart from the right flank.

He terrorised the visitors. His first-half rampage led to Lescinel Jean-Francois being hauled off at the interval. He was everything good about the Saddlers. Inventive, dynamic and determined.

Through him the hosts were having scant difficulty in picking the visitors apart. Matt Richards headed straight at Lucas as they sought a second, but with that miss the Robins grew in strength and gained a foothold.

Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin had already saved from Alex Revell before he was beaten by Jonathan Douglas, only to see Hughes clear off the line. It was a warning but it shouldn't have mattered when Nicholls headed wastefully wide just before the break.

The interval marked the end of the Saddlers' dominance as, fresh from a half-time rocket, Swindon improved. Paynter was guilty of miss of the season when, unmarked, he headed wide of an open goal.

Then came the mad 10 minutes orchestrated by referee Webb. First Westlake tangled with Macklin, no penalty. He then did the same with Paynter, but this time the spot-kick was given.

From 12 yards Paynter struck the post but, with 10 minutes left, redeemed himself when Hughes handled Tope Obadeyi's cross.

There was still time for Byfield to tumble under Morrison's challenge, but Webb only angered the hosts further by awarding a free-kick outside the box rather than the desired penalty.

No home luck, no home win - there's no place like home.

By Nick Mashiter