Walsall 1-1 Swindon Town

New signing Michael Smith grabbed his third goal in two games to earn Swindon a point at Walsall.

The visitors started brightly and tested goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell through Alex Pritchard's low drive.

Walsall took the lead when Romaine Sawyers dummied James Chambers' flick-on before firing home from Craig Westcarr's pass.

Town improved after the break and secured a draw when ex-Charlton man Smith headed in Darren Ward's cross.

Swindon had to hang on as Malvind Benning fired just wide before substitute Ashley Hemmings clipped the crossbar.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper told BBC Wiltshire:

"I'm pleased that we've come away and got something against a team that are doing really well.

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Post-match: Swindon boss Mark Cooper

"We were expected to take a bit of a battering tonight, but we came and we were dogged.

"When we changed to three at the back, with two wing-backs, I thought we looked a real threat.

"We are pleased we looked more solid and you do have to ride your luck at times."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Walsall

• 1O'Donnell
• 15ChambersSubstituted forPurkissat 72'minutes
• 14Benning
• 7Chambers
• 12Downing
• 4Butler
• 25SawyersSubstituted forHewittat 88'minutes
• 8Mantom
• 10Westcarr
• 29BrandySubstituted forHemmingsat 84'minutes
• 9Lalkovic

Substitutes

• 2Purkiss
• 6Featherstone
• 11Hemmings
• 13Lewis
• 16Baxendale
• 24Hewitt
• 26McQuilkin

Swindon

• 1Foderingham
• 2Thompson
• 34Reckord
• 4Luongo
• 22Ward
• 29Rossi Branco
• 11PritchardBooked at 56minsSubstituted forBarthramat 62'minutes
• 15KasimSubstituted forHarleyat 88'minutes
• 9RangerSubstituted forStoreyat 84'minutes
• 28Smith
• 19Thompson

Substitutes

• 3Byrne
• 7Harley
• 20Storey
• 23Barthram
• 25Belford
• 33Barker
• 39Gladwin

Referee:

Mark Brown

Attendance:

4,059

Match Stats

Home TeamWalsallAway TeamSwindon

Possession

Home56%

Away44%

Shots

Home12

Away8

Shots on Target

Home4

Away4

Corners

Home7

Away2

Fouls

Home9

Away15

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Walsall 1, Swindon Town 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Swindon Town 1.

Posted at 90'+3'

Ashley Hemmings (Walsall) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jack Barthram.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Malvind Benning (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Walsall. Troy Hewitt replaces Romaine Sawyers.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Swindon Town. Ryan Harley replaces Yaser Kasim.

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Louis Thompson (Swindon Town) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 85'

Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town).

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Walsall. Ashley Hemmings replaces Febian Brandy.

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Swindon Town. Miles Storey replaces Nile Ranger.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jamie Reckord.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Raphael Rossi Branco.

Posted at 79'

Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Raphael Rossi Branco (Swindon Town).

Posted at 77'

Foul by Sam Mantom (Walsall).

Posted at 77'

Michael Smith (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Raphael Rossi Branco (Swindon Town).

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Craig Westcarr (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Walsall. Ben Purkiss replaces James Chambers.

Goal!

Posted at 71'

Goal! Walsall 1, Swindon Town 1. Michael Smith (Swindon Town) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Darren Ward.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Swindon Town. Conceded by Sam Mantom.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Febian Brandy (Walsall).

Posted at 68'

Raphael Rossi Branco (Swindon Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 63'

Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Michael Smith (Swindon Town).

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Swindon Town. Jack Barthram replaces Alex Pritchard.

Posted at 58'

Foul by Malvind Benning (Walsall).

Posted at 58'

Jamie Reckord (Swindon Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 58'

Attempt saved. Febian Brandy (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Booking

Posted at 56'

Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 56'

Febian Brandy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 56'

Foul by Alex Pritchard (Swindon Town).

Posted at 54'

Attempt saved. Malvind Benning (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 49'

Febian Brandy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 49'

Foul by Louis Thompson (Swindon Town).

Posted at 46'

Febian Brandy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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