Swindon 2 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

A Jonathan Obika header in the first half put the hosts ahead, before Tom Bradshaw levelled matters shortly after the hour work.

But, despite the Saddlers going on to dominate possession, Louis Thompson lashed home a 20-yard drive in the closing stages to steal the points for the Robins.

Walsall: Etheridge, Demetriou, Downing, O'Connor, Henry, Forde, Evans (Flanagan 75), Chambers, Cook (Lalkovic 78), Sawyers, Bradshaw.

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Taylor, Baxendale, Preston, Morris.

Swindon: Vigouroux; El-Abd, Branco, Turnbull, Barry, Thompson (Rodgers 93), Kasim, Gladwin (Robert 59), Ormonde-Ottewill, Obika, Ajose

Boss Dean Smith sprung a selection surprise in naming his starting line-up, with Jordan Cook and Anthony Forde preferred ahead of Milan Lalkovic and Kieron Morris.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a 4-1-4-1 system, with skipper Adam Chambers in a holding midfield role and Tom Bradshaw the lone striker.

Also included was George Evans, who had his loan from Manchester City extended this morning.

Swindon manager Martin Ling, a former Walsall scout, made two changes from the side that lost 5-1 at Fleetwood.

Despite having tasted victory in just four of their 18 games this season, Swindon started brightly but a lack of confidence meant they kept giving the ball away in promising positions.

But the home side did manage to break the deadlock in the 16th minute, when Walsall lost possession cheaply in midfield.

After Bradley Barry forced a corner, a whipped in ball was met in the air by Jordan Turnbull who saw his effort spectacularly saved by goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

Louis Thompson sent it back into the danger area though and, with Walsall pushing out, an unmarked Jonathan Obika headed home.

The goal seemed to spur the Saddlers into life and they thought they had a penalty, when Bradshaw took a Romaine Sawyers ball on the chest only to be bundled to the floor by Adam El-Abd.

Despite vigorous protests from both Bradshaw and Smith, referee Keith Hill waved play on.

Walsall were now on top and Sawyers and Bradshaw again combined with the Welshman hitting a low strike, which goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux tipped around the post.

Buoyed, the visitors continued to press with Forde's free-kick, just past the half hour, teeing up Evans who saw his shot blocked.

Smith's side were getting into good positions in the final third but, too often, their decision making was letting them down.

Despite the rest of the half largely being in front of Swindon's goal, the Saddlers came off at the break a goal down having created little in the way of clear cut chances.

Following their half-time instructions, Walsall came flying out the blocks and twice came a whisker away from pulling level inside the first minute.

First Bradshaw latched on to a Sawyers through-ball and arrowed a drive towards the top corner, which Vigouroux spectacularly pushed away.

From the resultant corner, James O'Connor teed up Sawyers on the edge of the box with the St Kitts & Nevis international hitting a low strike which nestled into the side netting.

The Saddlers were now rampant and a terrific spell of football should have seen them pull level.

A lovely Cook ball sent Henry galloping away down the left and his cross was cushioned into the path of Evans by Forde, but the City youngster fired over from 12-yards.

But as the clock ticked past the hour mark, Walsall did manage to pull level.

Bradshaw collected the ball midway in Swindon's half and darted towards goal before firing a low strike across the goalkeeper and into the corner for his 11th goal of the campaign.

Minutes later and the Saddlers should have been ahead. Forde's corner was met in the air by an unmarked O'Connor but his header cannoned off a defender.

Swindon responded with Barry hitting a dipping half volley that was kept out by a diving Etheridge.

Walsall thought they had taken the lead with 15 minutes remaining when Evans' free-kick was parried out by Vigouroux but only as far as Cook, who then turned it home.

The striker ran off to celebrate with his team mates only to then see the linesman raise his flag for offside. Smith responded by switching Reece Flanagan for Evans.

The Saddlers continued to press with Forde firing inches wide from 12-yards following a fine cut-back from Henry. Milan Lalkovic then replaced Cook.

Smith's side were now having wave after wave of attack, but with just a few minutes remaining Swindon snatched all three points.

Flanagan was guilty of giving possession away with Thompson collecting the ball and then firing an unstoppable strike past Etheridge from 20-yards.