TOWN boss Mark Cooper lavished praise on young duo Jermaine Hylton and Will Randall after they played a big part in Town salvaging a 3-3 draw at home to Walsall.

Both came on at the same time - with Swindon 2-0 down - and added energy to what had been a lacklustre display up to that point.

Errors from Wes Foderingham and Sam Ricketts handed the Saddlers a two-goal advantage that was halved after Hylton won a dubious penalty for Ben Gladwin to score.

Gladwin then got a leveller from the spot after a foul on Nathan Byrne.

Another substitute to make an impact was the Saddlers' Romaine Sawyers, scoring barely a minute after his introduction, but Jordan Turnbull was able to provide his side a share of the points from Gladwin’s free-kick.

Without providing highlight reel fodder Hylton and Randall both troubled Walsall, fuelling the uncertainty in the opposition’s backline.

Cooper was full of praise for the pair and intimated they had given him something to consider possibly for the rest of the run-in and possibly into the post-season.

“Jermaine and Randall have definitely given me something to think about for the play-offs,” Cooper told the local media.

“I said to the players before the game and at half time places are up for grabs. I really enjoyed the second half, the energy and the desire and as much as we want to play football, we can’t do it without that tempo and desire.

“I thought those two came on and gave us a real impetus. I thought Will looked very assured for his third league appearance. He got at people, took players on and put some crosses in and he can be very proud of his time on the pitch.

“I was always going to put Will on and give him a bit of time that was always the plan.

“I just felt the game the way it was with it getting stretched Jermaine would naturally pick the ball up, turn and run – twist and turn like he does and cause them problems.”

On the game itself Cooper was less effusive.

"The first 50 minutes were not very good and I had to change it and try and get a bit of impetus and a bit of intensity and a bit of desire into the play,” he added.

"I thought the last 30 minutes was outstanding. I had to make it a little bit end to end to try and get back into the game.

"We could have probably nicked it, and so could they, but I thought it was a real good game in the second half.”

The Swindon Advertiser was not permitted to attend Swindon Town’s post-match press duties.