Richie Wellens salutes Swindon’s battling qualities after edging past Walsall

Posted Sunday, November 03, 2019 by PA

Swindon manager Richie Wellens hailed his side’s battling qualities as Eoin Doyle’s 14th goal of the season inspired them to a 2-1 win over Walsall at a wind-swept County Ground.

Goals from Sky Bet League Two top goalscorer Doyle and Diallang Jaiyesimi helped the Robins to a third straight win.

Wellens said: “We got there in the end and we are going to need to have a couple more of those results to see us where we want to go.

“It was 100 per cent important to show different qualities from the last game.

“Last week’s performance against Crawley was chalk and cheese – the wind was heavier and the rain in the last 20 minutes was very tough.

“When you get in those conditions you just have to chalk three points for us and move onto the next game.

“If you get the game today with the conditions you have got to realise it will not be a complete performance, and I think the atmosphere in the last 20 minutes was excellent.

“All we can control is the basics to get us the results. If we can do that consistently well we will win enough games to be there or thereabouts in terms of promotion.”

For the third time this season, Swindon scored within the opening 10 minutes as Doyle tapped in from Keshi Anderson’s low cross with just five minutes played.

The home side started the second half superbly as well, with Jaiyesimi notching two minutes after the restart with a deflected shot.

Rory Gaffney reduced the arrears in the 54th minute by heading in a free-kick that Swindon goalkeeper Steven Benda failed to claim.

Walsall have now lost six games on the trot.

Manager Darrell Clarke said: “We should have, could have, but ultimately didn’t win the game.

“We conceded a sloppy couple of goals, were on top for large spells.

“That is just the way it’s going at the moment. I keep saying it every week, we’ve got to go again.

“We got a little bit panicky and rushed in our approach.

“To come to Swindon who are flying at the minute, we can’t give away the goals we’re conceding at the minute.

“We’ve been saying that over the course of the last six defeats and today was one of those days. Very frustrating and disappointing.

“It’s cruel but through the course of this season we haven’t done ourselves justice in my opinion.

“It’s a results business and we’re struggling with results. We’ve got to take the stick, we’re not going to get clapped off when we’ve lost six on the spin.”