Match Report: Swindon Town 0-4 Walsall

It really was an opening home game to forget for Town as Walsall breezed to an unchallenged four-goal victory.

Swindon lined up for their first home game of the season looking for their first win of the season, after an opening day draw at Chesterfield was followed by a midweek defeat in the League cup. The Robins made just the one alteration from their first game, with Paul Glatzel replacing Aaron Drinan in attack. The visitors, Walsall, enjoyed a winning start to their campaign with a 1-0 success over Morecambe.

It was The Saddlers who had the brighter opening exchanges. They came closest to finding an early lead when Jamile Matt, on the byline, cut it back to Josh Gordon inside the box where he was denied brilliantly by Jack Bycroft diving across goal.

However, after that Swindon began to flex their muscles. They had their first sight of goal in the 17th minute when Miguel Freckleton found the run of Harry Smith from deep, the striker saw his header drop just wide of the near post. Smith again was in the thick of the action two minutes later when his fizzing shot from range cannoned off the post into the fortunate grasp of the Walsall keeper.

The game continued to see both teams take turns to have spells of dominance. And after a strong period, Walsall came close again with Jack Bycroft doing superbly well to get down and save Gordon’s header from close range. But minutes later there was nothing Bycroft could do when Gordon caught Grant Hall, poorly in possession, allowing the Walsall man to slot through Bycroft’s legs 1v1 to take the lead.

Walsall would double the lead five minutes prior to the break, when Taylor Allen had time to pick out Jamile Matt who rose unmarked to head home the cross. It was entirely what the visitors deserved, having been the more threatening team for the majority of the first half.

Things would go from bad to worse for Town as Walsall made it three, moments after half time. Taylor Allen, from a free kick, curled it over the war into the top left corner from 23 yards. It was a brilliant free kick goal which extinguished any chances of Swindon claiming anything from the match.

As we approached the hour mark, it felt a case of damaged limitations for Town. How many could they keep it to? It definitely wouldn’t be three, as Connor Barrett’s cross saw Albert Adomah afforded time and space to turn in the box and slot past Bycroft. Swindon were sinking as they shipped another simple goal.

For the remaining stages, Walsall were more than happy to let Swindon have the ball, knowing that Town didn’t have the quality to break them down. In attack, Walsall had the odd half chance but were more than happy with their afternoon’s work to punish Swindon further. The closest they came to making it a fabulous five was a deflected Charlie Lakin shot from range which Bycroft had to tip over the bar.

It finished 4-0, Swindon’s biggest home defeat since 2017. It really was a shocking performance, toothless in attack and weak at the back. The sort of side Swindon have become. Next up is a trip to Crewe, who themselves will be coming off the back of a beating – losing 5-0 to Chesterfield.