Byrne laments loss

Published: 01/12/2008

Swindon caretaker manager David Byrne felt that Walsall goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin was the difference as the Saddlers dealt his side their first defeat in seven league games with a 2-1 win.

Gilmartin, in for the injured Clayton Ince, deservedly collected the man-of-the-match award with a string of saves to leave Byrne scratching his head.

He said: "Football can be a cruel game.

"In the previous two games we had two points nicked off us in the last minute, and this was as good a performance as I have seen from the boys this term.

"The fact that their goalkeeper got the man-of-the-match award says it all. He pulled off some unbelievable saves. But it's all about results and we haven't got the result we deserved.

"It's the first game we have lost since I have been in charge. If the boys can perform like that and we shut up shop at the back we will climb the league."

Walsall had taken the lead in the 18th minute when top scorer Michael Ricketts drove in his 10th goal of the season following good work by Troy Deeney.

They virtually clinched the points in the last minute of normal time when Alex Nicholls headed his third goal of the season from a Richard Taundry cross but almost immediately Paynter pulled one back with a spectacular 30-yard shot.