George Bennett analysis: The away form turnaround begins with a bang for Walsall

Away form proved Walsall’s downfall last term. They conceded first in 19 of their 23 fixtures on their travels and shipped the fourth-most goals in the division (48).

That’s something which Mat Sadler has clearly addressed over the summer with a solid out-of-possession performance during the opening 30 minutes ultimately creating the platform for the Saddlers to run riot.

Priestley Farquharson was a supreme force in the heart of defence and dealt with the aerial threat posed by Swindon frontman Harry Smith with complete ease.

Ryan Stirk looked in his element in the deep-lying role – selflessly sitting in whenever Oisin McEntee or Taylor Allen ventured forward while spraying an array of passes to keep Walsall ticking.

The front-two coupled with advanced midfield pair Jamie Jellis and Charlie Lakin pressed relentlessly with the wing-backs often squeezing up the pitch to trouble Swindon further.

Josh Gordon had two chances within the opening half-hour but found himself thwarted on both occasions by Swindon shot-stopper Jack Bycroft.

Swindon breached Walsall’s defence just once as Smith sent a stooping header wide before his effort from distance crashed against the post moments later.

But any seeds of doubt were immediately ripped up before they could grow, as Josh Gordon made it third time lucky to open the scoring on 33 minutes.

McEntee launched a hopeful ball into the channel and Josh Gordon hounded Grant Hall into fluffing his clearance before finding himself through on goal with just Bycroft in his wake.

The forward, fresh from his shoot-out heroics against Exeter City on Tuesday, maintained his composure to tuck a tidy finish underneath the onrushing Swindon goalkeeper.

It also ended his 13-match goal drought and will hopefully prove the catalyst to him rediscovering his goal scoring touch.

Swindon struggled from that point onwards and Walsall showed no mercy to their hosts with a ruthless attacking performance.

Within seven minutes, Jamille Matt had doubled Walsall’s advantage when he escaped the auspices of Swindon defender Hall to nod Allen’s perfectly flighted cross into the far corner.

The only dampener on the first half was the withdrawal of Josh Gordon who suffered a hamstring injury in the aftermath of his opener.

Nevertheless, his replacement Albert Adomah would go onto play his part in another commanding second half display.

Swindon boss Mark Kennedy responded with the introduction of Aaron Drinan at the break although the switch to three centre-forwards left them completely outnumbered in midfield.

Any attempts of a rescue mission were completely obliterated when Allen continued his dream start to the season with a sensational free-kick into the far top corner from 20 yards just four minutes after the restart.

Allen has scored in back-to-back games in the EFL for the first time in his career and looks as if he will help replace the numbers chalked up by Isaac Hutchinson last season.

That task will very much be a collaborative mission and the fact that Walsall finished the afternoon with four different goal scorers bodes well.

Adomah added more stardust to the victory as he capped an impressive performance from the bench with his first goal for the club.

Jamie Jellis stole the ball midway inside Swindon’s half and set Connor Barrett away down the right, as he stormed into space and fed a low cross into the feet of Adomah.

The 36-year-old collected the cross with his back to goal before his finish took a heavy deflection to wrong-foot Bycroft and nestle into the corner.

His experience and quality has proven to be a great addition thus far and has clearly rubbed off on those around him, while the fans have also taken to him immediately.

As the 607 travelling supporters bellowed Adomah’s chant from the far corner of the County Ground, Lakin almost extended Walsall’s advantage when his deflected effort from distance was expertly tipped over by Bycroft.

Meanwhile, Tommy Simkin had little to do between the sticks once again on his way to back-to-back league clean sheets.

They closed the game out with ease as a sorry Swindon limped over the line bruised and battered. If Sadler could stop the clock now then he would, but he knows as well as anyone that the season isn’t decided in August.

What it does do is create a platform to build from and Walsall’s storming start has done exactly that.

Considering this squad needs at least two centre-forwards to be complete, it could be a mouth-watering prospect when those new additions are finally through the door!