On Tuesday evening, Walsall Football Club travelled to Wiltshire to take on Swindon Town in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season.
Walsall had the opening opportunity of the game as Tom Bradshaw sent a shot in on goal, his effort was deflected wide, and a corner, which was subsequently awarded, was cleared without the Saddlers creating much danger.
Following a blocked Ajose effort, the Saddlers had another opening as Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw combined well, Forde saw a cross claimed by the goalkeeper as Swindon looked to clear.
Swindon began to see more of the ball, but couldn't break through to the final third as Walsall defended well, while looking to build from the back.
Walsall were awarded a corner kick following a poor Gladwin challenge on Forde, the flag-kick came to nothing as Swindon broke and had a long-range effort from the aforementioned Gladwin, float harmlessly wide of goal.
The hosts won another corner as we reached the fifteen minute mark, some poor Saddlers passing in midfield allowed the Town attack, forcing O'Connor to give away the flag kick.
Swindon opened the scoring following the corner as Turnbull saw a header cleared by Etheridge, the ball was played back in and sent home by Jon Obika, who looked to be offside and was totally unmarked in the middle of the area as the defence pushed out.
As Walsall's Romaine Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw linked up well, the Saddlers had claims for a penalty waived away, with Bradshaw seemingly forced to the ground, the hosts broke up field and saw their counter quelled.
Walsall went on to win another corner as Anthony Forde forced a fine save from distance. The flag-kick was cleared without much of a threat.
Sawyers and Bradshaw combined well to see the latter force another save from the 'keeper. The corner once again came to nothing as Walsall failed to make use of their opportunities.
As Jordan Turnbull was booked for a foul, Walsall's Anthony Forde and George Evans attempted a training ground free kick, which saw Evans' effort blocked.
As the half neared the forty minute mark Anthony Forde wasted the ball in a good position as he sent an effort well over the bar from an angle, should've looked for the pass.
Rico Henry then did well to beat a few challenges and force another corner kick. Forde sent the ball in but it fell into space and saw a Swindon player clear the immediate danger.
Walsall regained the ball and looked to create an opening, sadly the hosts defended well and got the ball away. The Saddlers also did well to defend against the break as both Downing and Demetriou did well to stop the attack.
With under three minutes of the half remaining, Walsall saw an Evans free kick go well wide of goal, the goalkeeper not really tested.
As the referee awarded two minutes of added time, Anthony Forde saw a left-footed effort deflected and gathered by the goalkeeper, plenty of endeavour from the Walsall wideman, but a little too keen to shoot at times.
Walsall enjoyed much of the ball during the opening half but failed to make much use of it as the hosts took a lead into the break.
As with the opening forty-five minutes, the Saddlers had the first chance of the half as Tom Bradshaw sent a snap-shot in on goal. The resulting corner was partially cleared and saw Romaine Sawyers hit the side netting following nice play from the Saddlers.
Following a spell of play in the middle of the park, Walsall sought to break down the field and saw their attack quelled as Ben Gladwin fouled Jason Demetriou, Gladwin was booked and the Saddlers were awarded a freekick.
Forde took the free kick, and Tom Bradshaw looked to turn it goalwards, but could only send it over the bar.
The Saddlers then put together a fine passage of play which saw Jordan Cook, Rico Henry and Anthony Forde combine to find George Evans in space, sadly his shot was well over the bar as Swindon remained in the lead.
George Evans again sent an effort over the bar following a Forde free kick, George's radar not quite on it as the game continued.
As the match reached the hour point, Swindon made the opening change of the game as Robert replaced Gladwin, the midfielder's booking maybe seeing him taken out of danger.
Walsall levelled the scores a few minutes later as Tom Bradshaw bagged his eleventh goal of the season, the striker sending the ball across the goalkeeper as he was going away from goal.
Walsall continued to enjoy the majority of the ball as they saw a couple of corners cleared, the second saw James O'Connor head at a defender as some called for a penalty, the ball back in was collected by the goalkeeper.
Swindon did well to clear and break up the other end, a dipping Barry shot was saved and resulted in a corner, this came to nothing as Walsall defended well.
Walsall were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area following a Raphael Branco foul, the Saddlers thought they had scored as the ball was sent home by Jordan Cook following Evans' initially saved effort. The referee ruled the effort to be offside.
Walsall made their opening change of the game soon after as Reece Flanagan replaced George Evans in the centre of midfield.
With ten minutes of the game remaining Forde and Henry combined to force an effort wide of goal, Forde again seeing the ball slip past the post.
Walsall made their second change of the game as Jordan Cook was replaced by Milan Lalkovic, fresh legs for the Saddlers.
Walsall won another corner soon after the change, Anthony Forde sent the ball high into the box but Paul Downing's header was poor and gathered by the goalkeeper.
The visitors went straight up the other end and saw an Ajose attack stopped by some alert goalkeeping from Neil Etheridge who took the ball from his feet as he looked to put his side back into the lead.
The hosts picked up their fifth booking of the game as Adam El-Abd was forced into action by a dangerous Saddlers attack. The resulting free kick was cleared for a corner, which again came to nothing.
Walsall gifted their opponents the third goal of the game as a sloppy pass from Reece Flanagan saw Louis Tomlinson break into space and fire low past Neil Etheridge from twenty-yards.
As the hosts made another change, Rodgers for goalscorer Thompson, Walsall won another corner, which they made little use of, a wasted opportunity for the men in blue and white.
Walsall couldn't regain the ball as Swindon held firm to take all three points, a long trip home for the Saddlers who have picked up just one point from the last two games.
Following a blocked Ajose effort, the Saddlers had another opening as Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw combined well, Forde saw a cross claimed by the goalkeeper as Swindon looked to clear.
Swindon began to see more of the ball, but couldn't break through to the final third as Walsall defended well, while looking to build from the back.
Walsall were awarded a corner kick following a poor Gladwin challenge on Forde, the flag-kick came to nothing as Swindon broke and had a long-range effort from the aforementioned Gladwin, float harmlessly wide of goal.
The hosts won another corner as we reached the fifteen minute mark, some poor Saddlers passing in midfield allowed the Town attack, forcing O'Connor to give away the flag kick.
Swindon opened the scoring following the corner as Turnbull saw a header cleared by Etheridge, the ball was played back in and sent home by Jon Obika, who looked to be offside and was totally unmarked in the middle of the area as the defence pushed out.
As Walsall's Romaine Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw linked up well, the Saddlers had claims for a penalty waived away, with Bradshaw seemingly forced to the ground, the hosts broke up field and saw their counter quelled.
Walsall went on to win another corner as Anthony Forde forced a fine save from distance. The flag-kick was cleared without much of a threat.
Sawyers and Bradshaw combined well to see the latter force another save from the 'keeper. The corner once again came to nothing as Walsall failed to make use of their opportunities.
As Jordan Turnbull was booked for a foul, Walsall's Anthony Forde and George Evans attempted a training ground free kick, which saw Evans' effort blocked.
As the half neared the forty minute mark Anthony Forde wasted the ball in a good position as he sent an effort well over the bar from an angle, should've looked for the pass.
Rico Henry then did well to beat a few challenges and force another corner kick. Forde sent the ball in but it fell into space and saw a Swindon player clear the immediate danger.
Walsall regained the ball and looked to create an opening, sadly the hosts defended well and got the ball away. The Saddlers also did well to defend against the break as both Downing and Demetriou did well to stop the attack.
With under three minutes of the half remaining, Walsall saw an Evans free kick go well wide of goal, the goalkeeper not really tested.
As the referee awarded two minutes of added time, Anthony Forde saw a left-footed effort deflected and gathered by the goalkeeper, plenty of endeavour from the Walsall wideman, but a little too keen to shoot at times.
Walsall enjoyed much of the ball during the opening half but failed to make much use of it as the hosts took a lead into the break.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - HALF TIME
SWINDON TOWN 1 WALSALL 0
As with the opening forty-five minutes, the Saddlers had the first chance of the half as Tom Bradshaw sent a snap-shot in on goal. The resulting corner was partially cleared and saw Romaine Sawyers hit the side netting following nice play from the Saddlers.
Following a spell of play in the middle of the park, Walsall sought to break down the field and saw their attack quelled as Ben Gladwin fouled Jason Demetriou, Gladwin was booked and the Saddlers were awarded a freekick.
Forde took the free kick, and Tom Bradshaw looked to turn it goalwards, but could only send it over the bar.
The Saddlers then put together a fine passage of play which saw Jordan Cook, Rico Henry and Anthony Forde combine to find George Evans in space, sadly his shot was well over the bar as Swindon remained in the lead.
George Evans again sent an effort over the bar following a Forde free kick, George's radar not quite on it as the game continued.
As the match reached the hour point, Swindon made the opening change of the game as Robert replaced Gladwin, the midfielder's booking maybe seeing him taken out of danger.
Walsall levelled the scores a few minutes later as Tom Bradshaw bagged his eleventh goal of the season, the striker sending the ball across the goalkeeper as he was going away from goal.
Walsall continued to enjoy the majority of the ball as they saw a couple of corners cleared, the second saw James O'Connor head at a defender as some called for a penalty, the ball back in was collected by the goalkeeper.
Swindon did well to clear and break up the other end, a dipping Barry shot was saved and resulted in a corner, this came to nothing as Walsall defended well.
Walsall were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area following a Raphael Branco foul, the Saddlers thought they had scored as the ball was sent home by Jordan Cook following Evans' initially saved effort. The referee ruled the effort to be offside.
Walsall made their opening change of the game soon after as Reece Flanagan replaced George Evans in the centre of midfield.
With ten minutes of the game remaining Forde and Henry combined to force an effort wide of goal, Forde again seeing the ball slip past the post.
Walsall made their second change of the game as Jordan Cook was replaced by Milan Lalkovic, fresh legs for the Saddlers.
Walsall won another corner soon after the change, Anthony Forde sent the ball high into the box but Paul Downing's header was poor and gathered by the goalkeeper.
The visitors went straight up the other end and saw an Ajose attack stopped by some alert goalkeeping from Neil Etheridge who took the ball from his feet as he looked to put his side back into the lead.
The hosts picked up their fifth booking of the game as Adam El-Abd was forced into action by a dangerous Saddlers attack. The resulting free kick was cleared for a corner, which again came to nothing.
Walsall gifted their opponents the third goal of the game as a sloppy pass from Reece Flanagan saw Louis Tomlinson break into space and fire low past Neil Etheridge from twenty-yards.
As the hosts made another change, Rodgers for goalscorer Thompson, Walsall won another corner, which they made little use of, a wasted opportunity for the men in blue and white.
Walsall couldn't regain the ball as Swindon held firm to take all three points, a long trip home for the Saddlers who have picked up just one point from the last two games.
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - RESULT
SWINDON TOWN 2 WALSALL 1
GOALS | Obika (17'), Thompson (90') --- Bradshaw (61')ATTENDANCE | 6,385 | (282 Walsall)
REFEREE | Mr. Keith HILL | Hertfordshire