Swindon 1-1 Walsall: Tai Sodje salvages a third successive draw for the Saddlers

Tai Sodje scored his first league goal for Walsall to salvage a third successive 1-1 draw against Swindon Town at the County Ground.

Aaron Drinan opened the scoring in the fifth-minute when Stephan Negru squared from the by-line for the Swindon striker to tap-in his sixth goal of the season.

That set the tone for a poor first 45 minutes, but Walsall improved after the break and levelled when Sodje headed in on the line for his third goal of the week.

Sodje then had another goal ruled out for offside, as well as a penalty claim turned away, as Walsall extended their unbeaten start in League Two to 10 games.

Walsall headed to Wiltshire unbeaten in their opening nine games for the first time in 47 years, albeit having drawn six in the process.

Tai Sodje was given the nod in attack after his brace in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, while Courtney Clarke replaced Lewis Simper on the right wing.

Swindon opened the scoring inside five minutes when Walsall were unable to deal with Mitch Clark’s long throw. Aaron Pressley headed back into the danger area, as Negru exploited the Saddlers’ hesitancy to break to the by-line and square for Drinan to convert.

Reece Smith was involved in most of the best Walsall moments in a predominantly poor first half. His teasing cross was parried by Connor Ripley with Mason Hancock lurking, but Swindon managed to scramble behind.

Walsall looked disjointed and were shaky on the ball. James Connolly played a hazardous pass across the back-line, which was pounced upon by Clark, who drew a low stop from Jed Ward.

There were chances at both ends just before half-time. Negru poked his finish inches over the bar following Billy Kirkman’s low cutback and Sodje forced a finger tip stop from Ripley with a venomous half-volley.

Grant changed things at half-time, as Elicha Ahui was introduced for Ryan Leak at right-back and Declan Skura reverted to centre-back.

There was a significant improvement in the second half and Walsall got back on level terms when Sodje equalised 10 minutes after the restart.

Hancock’s initial corner was cleared back out to him, as his thunderous half-volley was clawed into the air by Ripley and headed in on the line by Sodje.

Pressley struck a good chance straight at Ripley, before Swindon launched a quick attack at the other end, where Drinan blazed off target.

Sodje had the ball in the net again when Ripley palmed Pressley’s chipped effort towards his own goal. Sodje volleyed in from a matter of yards, but his celebrations were dashed by the offside flag.

Swindon almost caught Walsall cold with a quick counter-attack, but Anthony Munda’s low deflected shot was expertly turned behind by Ward.

Ripley escaped a contentious moment when he hacked down Sodje just inside the box, but referee Alex Chilowicz was unmoved.

Substitute Louis Millard pulled a late shot just wide for Swindon, as Clark fired another effort into the side netting.

Next, Walsall return to home soil with the visit of Oldham Athletic under the lights at Bescot on Tuesday night.

Team News

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Skura, Leak (Ahui 46), Connolly (c), Hancock (Furlong 81); Moore (Crew 70), Sprangler; Clarke (Simper 81), Sodje (Dallas 84), Smith; Pressley.

Not used: Wooster, Adomah.

Swindon (4-3-3): Ripley; Clark, Negru, Ball (Majekodunmi , Kirkman; Munda (Pearman 76), Thomson, Clarke (Snowdon 62); Hungbo (Virtue 61), Drinan, Hackford (Millard 62).

Not used: Ward, Nichols.

Referee: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 7,197 (612)