Walsall 2-1 Swindon: Late winner secures opening day victory for 10-man Saddlers

Evan Weir scored an eighth minute opener when he unleashed a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards out. 

Brandon Comley was sent off midway into the first half, which changed the complexion of the game entirely. 

Swindon levelled in the 79th minute when Will Wright converted from the spot after Rico Browne had fouled Harry Smith inside the box. 

But Barrett decided the contest in the first minute of stoppage time when he applied a composed finish into the bottom corner. Smith had a header ruled out for offside in the dying stages for the visitors in a dramatic finale.

Jamie Jellis was the only survivor from the XI which started the Saddlers' 1-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off final in May. 

Mat Sadler handed debuts Myles Roberts, Aden Flint, Mason Hancock, Aaron Pressley and Jonny Stuttle, while Rico Browne made his league bow. 

Weir opened his goal scoring account for Walsall when he thundered a sensational free-kick into Connor Ripley's left-hand top corner from 25 yards out. 

Stuttle chased a long ball into the channel and was rewarded for his determination when he pickpocketed his marker, but Ripley was quick off his line to foil him at his feet. 

The pendulum took a swing in the direction of the visitors when Comley was shown a straight red card for stopping Drinan's run in its tracks with a cynical pull-back. 

Lewis Warrington, making his debut following his arrival from Leyton Orient this week, replaced Stuttle, as Sadler shifted to a 3-5-1.

Swindon forced Roberts into a pair of routine saves in quick succession through Will Wright's free-kick and a Harry Smith header.

While the Robins failed to seriously stretch Roberts, it was clear how the red card had knocked the stuffing out of the Saddlers' solid start. They were forced to sit much deeper, defending in a low block, and had less of a presence in attack with Pressley leading the line on his own.

Drinan came closest for Swindon in the first half when his header from Joe Snowdon's cross whistled just over the crossbar.

There were chances at both ends at the start of the second half. Finley Munroe curled his free-kick into the side netting and Pressley's tame effort on the break was comfortably gathered by Ripley. 

Walsall initially reduced Swindon to very little for much of the second period with a tireless display off the ball. 

Sadler used his bench wisely with the introductions of Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah, but Swindon were handed a lifeline when Browne was penalised for pulling down Smith inside the box.

Wright stepped up to the spot and converted beyond the dive of Roberts with a clinical finish into his right-hand bottom corner 11 minutes from time.

The game became very open afterwards and Paul Glatzel flashed a menacing strike over the crossbar after a quick Swindon break.

Walsall nerves must have been in shreds when the fourth official raised the board to confirm seven minutes of additional time, but the emotion would be very different 60 seconds later when Barrett provided the winner. 

It came from a lovely one-two and Barrett suddenly found himself through on goal. Ripley emerged but Barrett kept his head to tuck his finish into the bottom corner. 

Swindon thought they'd snatched a point in the dying embers when Smith headed past Roberts but the flag was raised on the nearside to save Walsall's blushes.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Browne, Flint (c), Weir; Comley (sent off - 21); Barrett, Jellis (Clarke 67), Lakin (Hollman 87), Hancock (Farquharson 87); Pressley (Adomah 67), Stuttle (Warrington 23).

Unused: Hornby, Matt.

Swindon: Ripley; Snowdon, Wright, Wilson-Brown (Ball 67), Munroe; Clarke (c); Kilkenny (Ameen 40), Oldaker; Drinan (Glatzel 46), Smith, Nichols (Tabor 57). 

Unused: Ward, Mabate, Kirkman. 

Referee: Oliver Mackey 

Attendance: 8,040 (2,169)