Match ends, Swindon Town 1, Walsall 3.
Swindon Town 1-3 Walsall
- From the section Football
Goals from Ashley Hemmings and Sam Mantom gave Walsall victory at Swindon, consigning Mark Cooper's side to a first home league loss of the season.
Hemmings gave Walsall the lead with a shot from outside the area while Mantom doubled their lead from close range, before later hitting the crossbar.
Walsall sealed the points when Hemmings grabbed his second of the night with a neat finish from 12 yards.
Nile Ranger grabbed a late consolation for Swindon with a close-range header.
Walsall's fine away form has helped to lift Dean Smith's men into the League One top six for the first time this season.
The Saddlers have now gone five league games without defeat on the road, including victories at Crewe, Wolves and now Swindon, as well as enjoying the mantle of being the first team to take points off leaders Orient this season.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Swindon Town goalkeeper Wes Foderingham told BBC Wiltshire:
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"I don't think there are many positives to take from it, if I'm honest.
"They put an extra man in midfield which made it difficult for us to get on the ball.
"If we start kicking the ball forward I guarantee we'll be in the relegation zone at the end of the season because that's not how we play.
"We've not got the players to do that. We're a footballing side but today it was about concentration."
Walsall forward Ashley Hemmings told BBC WM:
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"For the first goal, when the ball came out, I just thought 'hit it first time'. When it hit the back of the net I was buzzing.
"The second one was a great team goal. I just took a touch and slotted it home.
"I nearly had three and to be honest I thought the shot which went just wide was going in. But I'm happy with two.
"Last year wasn't so great, I was in and out of the team. This season I just wanted to secure my place and do well for the team."
Line-ups
Swindon
- 1Foderingham
- 2ThompsonSubstituted forBarthramat 59'minutes
- 14McEveleyBooked at 61mins
- 4Luongo
- 5HallBooked at 90mins
- 22Ward
- 3ByrneSubstituted forN'Guessanat 51'minutes
- 15Kasim
- 9Ranger
- 33AjoseSubstituted forMasonat 45'minutes
- 11PritchardBooked at 78mins
Substitutes
- 8Mason
- 12N'Guessan
- 19Thompson
- 23Barthram
- 25Belford
- 29Rossi Branco
- 34El-Gabbas
Walsall
- 1O'Donnell
- 15Chambers
- 3Taylor
- 6Featherstone
- 4Butler
- 12Downing
- 16BaxendaleSubstituted forGrayat 72'minutes
- 7ChambersBooked at 77mins
- 10WestcarrSubstituted forLalkovicat 84'minutes
- 8MantomBooked at 32mins
- 11HemmingsSubstituted forHewittat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Purkiss
- 9Lalkovic
- 13Lewis
- 14Benning
- 24Hewitt
- 25Sawyers
- 27Gray
- Referee:
- Darren Sheldrake
- Attendance:
- 8,188
Match Stats
Home TeamSwindonAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Swindon Town 1, Walsall 3.
Foul by Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town).
Nicky Featherstone (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Grant Hall (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Julian Gray (Walsall).
Booking
Grant Hall (Swindon Town) is shown the yellow card.
Troy Hewitt (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Grant Hall (Swindon Town).
Attempt saved. Nile Ranger (Swindon Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Corner, Swindon Town. Conceded by James Chambers.
Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Paul Downing (Walsall).
Foul by Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town).
Sam Mantom (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Troy Hewitt replaces Ashley Hemmings.
Foul by Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town).
Julian Gray (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Milan Lalkovic replaces Craig Westcarr.
Goal!
Goal! Swindon Town 1, Walsall 3. Nile Ranger (Swindon Town) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Alex Pritchard.
Corner, Swindon Town. Conceded by Andrew Butler.
Goal!
Goal! Swindon Town 0, Walsall 3. Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Adam Chambers (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
Attempt saved. Ryan Mason (Swindon Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Sam Mantom (Walsall) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box.
Foul by James McEveley (Swindon Town).
Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Julian Gray replaces James Baxendale.
Attempt missed. Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Andrew Butler (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Wes Foderingham.
Attempt saved. Nicky Featherstone (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Ryan Mason (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
Booking
James McEveley (Swindon Town) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by James McEveley (Swindon Town).
Craig Westcarr (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
