Goals from Holmes (2) and Nicholls secured a 3-0 win at Swindon on this day in 2008...
Saturday 23rd February 2008 - Swindon Town 0-3 WalsallThe Saddlers travelled to the County Ground looking for three points in order to restore confidence and continue a last minute play-off push after a 1-0 defeat away to League One leaders Swansea City the previous weekend.
Walsall faced hosts Swindon Town who had only won two of their previous seven league games.
Lining up for the away side were Trinidadian international goalkeeper Clayton Ince, Arsenal academy graduate Rhys Weston at full-back, veteran left-back Paul Boertien, Walsall veterans Ian Roper and Darren Wrack, Anthony Gerrard, winger Edrissa Sonko, loanee Kevin Betsy, versatile defensive player Mark Bradley, diminutive attacking midfielder Lee Holmes and experienced striker Tommy Mooney.
The visiting side started brightly and 11 minutes in, midfielder Holmes majestically curled an exquisite 25-yard free-kick into the top corner after energetic wideman Betsy was brought down outside the 18-yard box.
Holmes added his and the Saddlers' second on 57 minutes. The attacking midfielder forced a brilliant save from Robins goalkeeper Phil Smith, but reacted quickly to slot the rebound into the net.
Richard Money’s men went on to take a three-goal lead in added time. Betsy’s effort was clawed away by Smith, but substitute Alex Nicholls was in the right position to place the ball into an empty goal.
The Saddlers would finish the 2007/08 campaign in 12th place with 64 points. That season, the Reds performed strongly and went 17 league games unbeaten from the start of October until the end of February. Swindon Town finished one place behind Walsall, with the Saddlers three points better off than their league rivals.
Other notable fixtures on this day:
2013 - Brentford 0-0 Walsall
2010 - Walsall 0-1 Yeovil Town
2002 - Walsall 0-0 Manchester City
1999 - Northampton Town 0-1 Walsall
1991 - Burnley 2-1 Walsall
1988 - Walsall 3-2 Blackpool
1985 - Walsall 4-2 Leyton Orient
1980 - Torquay 0-1 Walsall