Routed Robins

Walsall stayed in the play off zone after a surprisingly easy victory against a lacklustre Swindon Town team who have severely dented their own play off chances. Walsall made three changes with Bradley, Mooney and Wrack returning to the fold.

It was plane sailing all the way for the Saddlers and they nearly took the lead in the opening exchanges but Tommy Mooney’s header was disallowed for offside. Soon afterwards on loan winger Lee Holmes did give the Saddlers the lead curling in a brilliant free kick over the wall and into the top corner. From this point on the Saddlers never looked like surrending their lead.

Swindon were a huge disappoint to their fans and huffed and puffed but couldn’t break through. After half time the former Swindon loan man doubled the Saddlers’ lead. Mooney won the ball played it to Bradley who slipped the ball through to Holmes. The winger’s low shot was poor but he was able to pick up the rebound and roll the ball into the empty net.

Simon Cox should have been sent off for a horror tackle on Bradley that saw the player stretched off with his reaccuring ankle injury. Holmes was then denied a hatrick by a last ditch tackle by Cox.

Billy Paynter missed a great chance to get the Robins back in the match but failed to connect. Then the performance was nicely finished by Alex Nicholls. The onloan striker/winger followed up after Kevin Betsy’s poor effort could only be parried by Keeper Phil Smith.

The two week rest seems to have done the Saddlers the power of good. It was notable how well the midfield was performing wih the trio of Bradley, Sonko and Wrack, with some great forward runs in support of Mooney. Bradley will now be the only risk for the visit to Luton next week.