Swindon 1 Walsall 1

Steve Jones' first goal in five months put a serious dent in Swindon's automatic promotion hopes.

The winger slid home his 10th of the season before Charlie Austin's close range strike levelled for the Robins after the break.

Alex Nicholls could have won it for the Saddlers but they were left indebted to their defence as Manny Smith, Clayton McDonald and goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin excelled.

Darren Byfield and Dwayne Mattis were sidelined by the respective knee and Achilles injuries picked up in Tuesday's heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at Huddersfield.

Alex Nicholls and Matt Richards replaced them, while Rhys Weston was fit enough to return to the bench.

Clayton McDonald picked up where he left off in Yorkshire, partnering Manny Smith with captain Mark Hughes suspended.

The Saddlers opened well with patient, yet purposeful, play and McDonald forced goalkeeper David Lucas to palm his header over after 13 minutes.

Immediately though Swindon went up the other end and Gilmartin had to smother at the feet of Austin, after Danny Ward stepped over Simon Ferry's cross.

Troy Deeney skidded two efforts wide before Gilmartin's blushes were saved by Jamie Vincent, who cleared after the goalkeeper spilled Danny Ward's strike.

The hosts had carved out the best opportunities but the Saddlers were beginning to frustrate them, as Billy Paynter volleyed over after 27 minutes.

Julian Gray was the Saddlers' best outlet and the winger shot over on the half hour, as the visitors continued to upset the hosts and they went ahead on 43 minutes.

Lucas, under pressure from Nicholls, passed to Scott Cuthbert who lost possession to the striker on the right flank and Nicholls had the easiest of tasks to roll across goal for Jones to stroke in.

The Saddlers had been the better side and fully deserved the lead, as the hosts were booed off at half time.

Deeney fired straight at Lucas after the restart while Gilmartin blocked Paynter's near post header on 54 minutes and from the resulting corner Swindon levelled.

Ward was left free on the far post and, when his shot was blocked, Austin was on hand to bundle in from close range.

Lifted, the hosts pressed for a second and Jon-Paul McGovern was inches away with a 25-yard free kick after Manny Smith fouled Paynter.

Deeney scuffed wide in a rare opening for Walsall, who had to ride out some heavy pressure, and the visitors were kept on level terms by Gilmartin's stunning save on 73 minutes.

Alan Sheehan's corner was only cleared to McGovern on the edge of the box and the winger unleashed a first time volley, which Gilmartin tipped round the post at full stretch.

It was relentless from the home side but Walsall should have regained the lead with 10 minutes remaining, when Gray won possession to feed Nicholls but the striker fired woefully wide.

Deeney acrobatically volleyed over, as the Saddlers survived a late storm to claim a deserved point.