SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner hailed his team’s fitness and concentration levels as the Robins held on to beat Walsall 2-1 in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

A fast start from the visitors paid dividends when Tyreece Simpson burst away from his man to slot home the game’s opening goal after 15 minutes.

Town took their foot off the gas as the first half wore on, however, and Walsall found a way back into the tie through Emmanuel Osadebe’s header 10 minutes before the break.

It would be Swindon’s day in the end though after Kaine Kesler-Hayden turned home Ellis Iandolo’s cross midway through the second half.

Garner’s men held on well despite a fair amount of Walsall pressure late on, and the Town boss was delighted to see his players apply themselves in order to grind out the win.

Garner said: “I thought our energy levels were really, really good.

“At the end of the first half, I thought they got a bit of momentum. We gave them a bit of momentum due to our decisions on the ball.

“But in the second half we’re always strong. We’re fit, we keep going, we’ve got great energy.

“I think the way we play energises the players because we want to pass the ball and everyone wants to get on the ball and play.

“But in terms of our energy and our desire to see the game through, I thought it was fantastic from the players.”

Town’s victory was in no small part down to the efforts of their goalkeeper, Jojo Wollacott.

The Ghanaian international made six saves at the Banks’ Stadium – the most important of which came deep into added time from Joss Labadie – and Wollacott’s head coach was full of praise for him afterwards.

Of Wollacott, Garner said: “He was really good. His distribution and his decision-making with the ball are improving all the time. He’s worked ever so hard at that, his understanding of the game from a tactical point of view keeps getting better.

“And he really has come on leaps and bounds since I set eyes on him at the start of the season.

“As I’ve said before, his mentality and his concentration levels are top class. He can go spells in a game where he’s not busy but he’s still safe with his hands.

“He’s brave too, and he’s been fantastic all season. He’s been very, very consistent – as has Lewis Ward.

“As I’ve said many times, I think we’re blessed to have two great goalkeepers.”