Analysis: Walsall stutter as former boss comes back to haunt Saddlers

However, there was no Walsall reunion for long-serving midfielder Liam Kinsella, who missed his third match on the bounce due to injury.

The Saddlers were unbeaten in four games in League Two ahead of kick-off and had registered back-to-back wins against Colchester and Salford respectively.

They were looking to win successive league games on the road for the first time since beating Swindon 2-1 on their previous visit to the County Ground on Boxing Day last year.

But they made the worst possible start when they fell behind inside the first two minutes. Swindon immediately started on the front foot and imposed themselves on the game with a series of intricate passes.

They worked the ball out to Remeao Hutton down the right. His initial cross was cleared but the hosts kept the attack alive to find Hutton again.

Hutton nudged the ball past Liam Gordon and accelerated away from him. He hung an inviting cross into the box and Swindon skipper Charlie Austin beat two defenders to the ball to guide an unerring header into the far corner.

Owen Evans helped Walsall end a 15-match winless away run in the league at Salford last time out with a number of top class saves. However, the Welshman was left with no chance, and was rooted to the spot, as Austin inflicted a sickening early blow.

Swindon dominated the early possession, whereas Walsall lacked composure on the ball. They initially struggled to find any rhythm to their play and spent much of the opening 30 minutes sitting deep.

Dan Kemp found the net in the 21st minute – only to see his celebrations cut short by the offside flag.

The Robins tried to seize the momentum, although they failed to create a high volume of clear cut chances, which perhaps their bright start merited.

Jake Young did come close to reaching double figures for the season after only seven games.

Kemp played a delicate chipped pass into the box, which Austin chased to the byline.

He fizzed a delivery across the face of goal, and Young, who found himself just ahead of the cross, was unable to connect with his header.

Walsall grew in confidence after the half-hour mark and finished the half as the stronger side.

Oisin McEntee drew the first save out of Swindon goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney after some tenacious play from Tom Knowles.

Knowles stole the ball from Tariq Uwakwe with a sliding challenge, and the loose ball presented itself to McEntee.

The Irishman unleashed a powerful shot towards the underside of the crossbar, and Mahoney matched him with an impressive fingertip save.

Walsall continued to gain confidence and Gordon was their biggest attacking outlet during their best period of the game.

He blazed one over from speculative range, and then manufactured a golden chance for Freddie Draper on the cusp of half-time.

Gordon surged inside from the left and squared for Draper. The forward flicked a low effort with the outside of his boot towards the target only to see Mahoney produce another strong save.

The Saddlers struggled to continue the attacking momentum they had gathered just before the interval.

Instead, Kemp curled a teasing cross into the box, which just evaded Austin and Young, before Austin sent a powerful low shot wide.

On the hour-mark, Priestley Farquharson charged forward from inside his own half. Walsall then applied numbers forward as Isaac Hutchinson took over the attack.

Hutchinson had options but decided to go alone and blazed over from distance.

Then came the second major blow for the Saddlers when Knowles was dismissed with 24 minutes left on the clock.

Knowles received his first booking for challenge from behind on George McEachran. He was shown a second yellow in controversial fashion just four minutes later.

Frazer Blake-Tracy went down after the pair challenged for a 50/50, although just how much contact there was is a question Mat Sadler was asking after the final whiste.

Nevertheless, it left Walsall with a mountain to climb and Swindon stepped it up a gear in the latter stages.

McEachran stung the palms of Evans from range, and Tyrese Shade cut inside and flashed one wide.

Substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy wrapped up the victory in the 88th minute.

Hepburn-Murphy cornered Gordon, who undercooked his back pass to Evans, who initially beat Young to the ball, until Hepburn-Murphy pounced on the loose ball to convert from close range.

Walsall fell to a first league defeat in five, and dropped to 14th. Swindon climbed into third and are still yet to taste defeat.