An awful error by Grant Hall opened the floodgates as sloppy Swindon were hammered 4-0 by Walsall in Mark Kennedy’s first home game in charge.

Goalkeeper Jack Bycroft came to the hosts’ rescue early on, pulling off a fabulous one-handed early save to deny Josh Gordon at the far post and then quickly getting down to claw away Gordon’s point-blank downward header.

At the other end Harry Smith fired a long-range effort against a post.

Walsall went ahead in the 33rd minute when former Middlesbrough defender Hall mis-controlled a punt forward, allowing Gordon to nick the ball and race through to score between the Bycroft’s legs.

Eight minutes later Jamille Matt got between two defenders to nod in at the back post.

Four minutes after the break Taylor Allen rifled a free-kick into the top corner and Walsall made it four when substitute Albert Adomah had ample time to spin and pick his spot.

Bycroft did well to keep out Charlie Lakin’s deflected shot as Swindon fell to their biggest home defeat since 2017.