Walsall ended a run of two successive league defeats with a narrow 2-1 home win over Swindon.

Saddlers survive to stop the rot

Walsall ended a run of two successive league defeats with a narrow 2-1 home win over Swindon. They had to withstand fierce Swindon pressure in the second half when reserve goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin pulled off several terrific saves. Walsall had taken the lead in the 18th minute when top scorer Michael Ricketts drove in his 10th goal of the season following good work by Troy Deeney. But after that Swindon were the better side and Gilmartin did well to keep out a 28th-minute header from the dangerous Billy Paynter following a Jon Paul McGovern cross. Walsall had a goal by Deeney ruled out for offside and a headed goal by Simon Cox for the Robins was also ruled out for offside six minutes later. The Saddlers virtually clinched the points in the last minute of normal time when Alex Nicholls headed his third goal of the season from a Richard Taundry cross but almost immediately Paynter pulled one back with a spectacular 30-yard shot.