IT MAY not go down in the history books as a classic but Swindon and Walsall split six goals in a sloppy defensive display from both sides.

Kieron Morris broke the deadlock for the visitors as he saw a speculative effort dropped agonisingly over the line after Wes Foderingham failed to handle the shot but it was the second half where the game really came to life.

Walsall doubled their lead eight minutes after the break thorugh Jordy Hiwula before two penalties from Ben Gladwin pulled the hosts back level.

Saddlers substitute Romaine Sawyers restored the lead for the visitors with 17 minutes to go but Jordan Turnbull was able to notch his first goal for Swindon to share the spoils.

It was essentially a dead rubber at the County Ground between Swindon, who had all but consigned themselves to a play-off spot, and Walsall all but safe for another season.

Cooper had mentioned in his pre-match press conferences that he was now preparing for the play-offs and that he could rest certain players and he followed through on that promise.

Massimo Luongo was left out of the match-day squad, with Yaser Kasim taking his place, and Jordan Turnbull returned from suspension to feature in a back three, with Michael Smith dropping to the bench.

Swindon started well and Anton Rodgers, who kept his starting place, brought about the first chance when his chip over the Walsall back-line found Gladwin who was able to tap the ball past goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell but the midfielder was unable to bring the ball under control before it went out of play.

Two fine saves from O’Donnell in as many minutes kept the Saddlers in the game early on.

The first came in the fifth minute when Turnbull got his head to a Harry Toffolo corner and looked certain to break his duck before the Walsall stopper clawed the ball back.

O’Donnell was then on hand to deny Gladwin after a fine ball from Rodgers found Nathan Byrne out wide and his drilled cross was met by Gladwin who was only denied by a strong hand from the Saddlers’ keeper.

After the early onslaught the visitors found their way back into the game and delivered a warning shot when Michael Cain was found in the box but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Foderingham.

The Swindon Town stopper however will be disappointed after what happened next.

In the 18th minute Morris let fly from the edge of the box and it looked as though Foderingham would comfortably pluck the ball from above his head but the ball slipped out of his grip and found its way over the line with the aid of the crossbar.

The game took a turn for the worse after that as Walsall fell behind the ball and Swindon found it difficult to break them down before the break.

Things got worse for Swindon after the interval courtesy of a clanger from Sam Ricketts.

A long hopeful ball was played forward by Walsall which Ricketts tried to bring down on his chest but Hiwula poached the ball off his toes and went clean through, one-on-one with Foderingham, and calmly side footed home.

In the 55th minute Mark Cooper rang the changes with youngsters Will Randall and Jemaine Hylton taking to the pitch in place of Rodgers and Toffolo making way.

And it was Hylton who, like against Peterborough made an immediate impact, bringing some much needed pace to the game.

He made a darting run into the box and despite riding the challenge of James O’Connor and staying on his feet the referee pointed to the spot with Hylton being brought down at the end of his run by O’Donnell with both the players and the ball seemingly off the pitch.

Gladwin made no mistake from the spot and eight minutes later he was called on again.

This time it was Byrne who was adjudged to have been tripped in the box on the turn and like the first Gladwin drilled it low and hard to the keepers’ right.

Parity however was short-lived as Dean Smith introduced Sawyers and Anthony Ford and the former made an immediate impact.

In the 73rd minute full-back Ben Purkiss latched onto a loose ball and whipped in a curling cross which was met by the substitute on the volley and he was able to beat a hapless Foderingham.

Despite there being very little on the game there was yet to be another twist and it was Gladwin who had another pivotal role in it.

This time it was a free-kick from him that was whipped into the box from the left and Turnbull threw himself at the ball to steer it past O’Donnell, who was caught in no man’s land, to record his first goal in a Town shirt.

SWINDON TOWN: Foderingham, Ricketts, Thompson N (C), Turnbull, Byrne, Rodgers (Randall 55’), Stephens, Gladwin, Kasim, Toffolo (Hylton 55’), Obika (Williams 68')

Subs not used: Belford T, Barthram, Marshall, Smith

WALSALL: O'Donnell, Purkiss, O'Connor, Chambers, Mantom (Sawyers 72'), Bradshaw, Cain, Benning, Chambers, Morris (Forde72'), Hiwula (Cook 87')

Subs not used: Macgillivray, Taylor, Downing, Grimes 

Referee: Iain Williamson

Attendance: 6,305