THE FULL REPORT: Town beaten by the wizard of Oz

Gone are the hopes of many that the season was turning around and Swindon Town could start to look up the table again, replaced by boos at the final whistle and chants against the team and the ownership.

Lost is the optimism that Nathan Delfouneso’s goal was going to spark a turnaround in fortunes, replaced by ironic jeers when Swindon’s only shot on target came about in the final 10 minutes.

For all that Walsall, or should we say Erhun Oztumer, were good in their clinical display in Wiltshire, Town were dismal.

It was of little surprise to those who have vacated the County Ground this season - and last for that matter - that Walsall’s opener should come from a Swindon mistake.

Darnell Furlong, a dependable addition from Queens Park Rangers, was the culprit this time as he showed no care in his pass in-field that was picked off by Oztumer with glee.

Only for the 5’ 3’’ number 10, who has spent his career proving that his height is not a disadvantage, to take one touch before spotting Lawrence Vigouroux off his line and having the audacity and skill to beat him with his left foot from 40 yards out.

Erhun Oztumer's lob sails over Lawrence Vigouroux for the opening goal

It was the magic of that left foot that proved Town’s undoing in the second half when Kevin Toner delivered a delectable ball from deep in his on half on a six-pence for the 25-year-old to flick with the outside of his left foot and find the corner of the net past the out-stretched frame of Vigouroux.

A change in formation in recent weeks had given new life to a side that had been haemorrhaging goals at the back and vacant of them up front.

It was the same formation that Luke Williams went with against Walsall as they matched up to their counterparts.

The only change from the 3-0 win over Rochdale was the return of Yaser Kasim, having served his one-match suspension, with Tom Smith making way after picking up a tear in his hip flexor muscle, which will rule him out for two-to-three weeks.

Yaser Kasim returned to the Swindon side following his suspension

However, while the formation in the previous two weeks had provided a solid foundation on which to build from, this week it looked lethargic and was easily closed down by a Walsall side who had done their homework on Swindon’s changes.

After a dull opening 15 minutes, the game sparked into life in the 17th minute courtesy of a bit of audacious quality from Walsall’s Oztumer.

Furlong didn’t look as he passed the ball inside from the touchline and it landed at the feet of the Walsall midfielder, who took a touch before spotting Vigouroux off his line and his effort from 40 yards out sailed over the Swindon stopper and into the back of the net.

Swindon tried to respond but were found wanting with their final ball as Neil Etheridge barely had a save to make in the Walsall goal.

Andrea Makris showed his pace in the 23rd minute as Walsall’s club-record signing went on the hunt for his first goal of the season but having out-run Conor Thomas down the left, he slipped at the crucial moment in the box.

A minute later at the other end, Anton Rodgers played a lovely ball over the top to find Delfouneso but after the Swindon striker pulled the ball out of the air with a fine first touch, his second was to blast the ball high over the bar.

Sean Murrray, who has been a bright spark of late in the heart of the Town midfield, drove towards the box after the half-hour mark before trying to lay the ball through to Delfouneso, who couldn’t quite take control of the ball under pressure as it rolled through to Etheridge.

Nathan Delfouneso found life tough going up front

Swindon continued to probe and Ellis Iandolo, making his third consecutive start for Swindon, found the ball on the edge of the box in the 33rd minute and with a large chunk of his shirt being held onto, was able to get a shot off but it curled just past the top corner of the goal.

In the 39th minute, Walsall had a chance to double their lead when Laird played an inviting ball into the six-yard-box but James Brophy did well to clear with Kieron Morris breathing down his neck.

There were a few concerned faces in the aftermath as Nathan Thompson and Makris were both down holding their heads but Town’s skipper shook off the blow to return to action after some treatment.

A half chance fell to the feet of Delfouneso moments before the break when Kasim found him at the back post with a lovely ball over the top but the striker’s first touch let him down.

Such was Etheridge’s lack of action in the first half, he was out at half-time warming up with the rest of the subs on what was a chilly late autumnal afternoon.

Swindon were forced into a change at the interval as Brophy, suffering from breathing problems, was replaced by Bradley Barry, whose first act was to pick up a yellow card which rules him out of the trip to Scunthorpe United.

Swindon had the crossbar to thank for the deficit staying at just one 40 seconds after the break when Makris was denied by the woodwork.

Franck Moussa picked up the ball down the right and with Barry out of position, the Walsall man drove into the box.

The ball into the six-yard-box was behind Cypriot Makris and his right-footed effort was hit into the turf and bounced off the bar and was cleared from danger.

However, Walsall’s second was not long in the coming as Toner delivered a long ball forward in the 51st minute and Oztumer delightfully flicked the ball into the far corner past a hapless Vigouroux.

Erhun Oztumer beats Lawrence Vigouroux for a second time

Williams reacted by switching Iandolo and John Goddard as the home support started to make their frustrations vocal.

Walsall should have further extended their lead when Oztumer offered further problems to the Town defence as he made a tricky run in the box before laying the ball on a plate for Morris, only for the midfielder to lean back and fire well over the bar.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Walsall began dropping all their players behind the ball as they challenged Swindon to break them down.

The most ironic cheer of the afternoon came in the 72nd minute when Rodgers fired a shot on goal from the edge of the box, which Etheridge struggled to keep hold of at the first time of asking.

Swindon continued to push forward in the closing stages but found themselves coming up short in the final third as Walsall had the numbers back to break down any passing move with ease.

The final moment of quality came aptly from Oztumer as he was denied a hat-trick by a fine diving save from Vigouroux.

The final whistle was met by boos from the home fans and Williams will now have a week on the training ground to look for another solution and bring back hope to the Town faithful.

Sean Murray was left scratching his head at the final whistle