Match ends, Walsall 0, Swindon Town 3.
WalsallWalsall0SwindonSwindon Town3
First-half goals from Harry McKirdy and a brace from Jack Payne saw Swindon secure a League Two play-off place with a comfortable win at Walsall.
Swindon began the day in seventh, inside the play-offs by just a single point, and took care of their own destiny in front of 3,590 travelling fans at the Banks's Stadium.
Victory secured sixth and a meeting with Port Vale in the play-offs.
Walsall end the season in 16th but will be grateful for a mid-table finish after a disastrous spell that saw them tumble down the table and Matt Taylor sacked as head coach in February.
Swindon took just three minutes to go ahead as Mandelo Egbo drove into the penalty area and saw his shot blocked, only for the rebound to fall for McKirdy to fire into the top-left corner.
Payne doubled the lead with a superb left-foot strike into the top-right corner after Walsall gave the ball away cheaply in midfield.
Swindon effectively sealed the points before the break as McKirdy was fouled by Donervon Daniels and Payne slotted the penalty into the bottom-right corner.
Dion Conroy's brave block prevented Walsall getting a goal back at the start of the second half and Brendan Kiernan struck the bar for the home side with four minutes remaining.
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Rushworth
- 2White
- 5DanielsBooked at 45mins
- 6MontheBooked at 73minsSubstituted forSadlerat 89'minutes
- 30DevineSubstituted forPerryat 62'minutes
- 10Osadebe
- 8Kinsella
- 17EaringSubstituted forShawat 87'minutes
- 28Shade
- 7Kiernan
- 11Miller
Substitutes
- 1Rose
- 16Shaw
- 18Leak
- 20Perry
- 21Rodney
- 23Sadler
- 24Menayese
Swindon
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Ward
- 18EgboSubstituted forOdimayoat 75'minutes
- 6BaudrySubstituted forO'Brienat 79'minutes
- 4Conroy
- 3Iandolo
- 10Payne
- 25ReedBooked at 70mins
- 20WilliamsBooked at 54minsSubstituted forGladwinat 58'minutes
- 11McKirdy
- 9Davison
- 19Barry
Substitutes
- 1Wollacott
- 2Odimayo
- 7Gladwin
- 16O'Brien
- 17Mitchell-Lawson
- 28Aguiar
- 29Parsons
- Referee:
- Samuel Barrott
- Attendance:
- 9,089
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamSwindon
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 0, Swindon Town 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Payne (Swindon Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Harry McKirdy following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Swindon Town. Conceded by Donervon Daniels.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Miller (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner following a fast break.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Mat Sadler replaces Emmanuel Monthe.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Jack Shaw replaces Jack Earing.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Akinwale Odimayo.
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Miller (Walsall) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Brendan Kiernan (Walsall) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Post update
Attempt missed. Louie Barry (Swindon Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Louis Reed.
Post update
Foul by Josh Davison (Swindon Town).
Post update
Emmanuel Monthe (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Brendan Kiernan (Walsall) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emmanuel Monthe.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sam Perry (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Osadebe.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Dion Conroy.
Post update
Foul by Ellis Iandolo (Swindon Town).
Post update
Brendan Kiernan (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Swindon Town. Jake O'Brien replaces Mathieu Baudry.
Post update
Attempt saved. Brendan Kiernan (Walsall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by George Miller.
Comments
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BRILLIANT season for Swindon… looking forward to Port Vale and I reckon we’ve got a half decent chance over two legs.
Also, want to congratulate our West Country cousins at Bristol Rovers… we’ll done today and hope to see you next season 👍
The only downside for me is why a few idiots think it's ok to throw flares on the pitch.
Absolute pond life, should never have a job in football.