"Rene Gilmartin has just been crossed off Billy Paynter's Christmas card list after the stand-in Walsall goalkeeper produced an inspired display to condemn Town to a first league defeat in seven outings.
Deputising for the injured Clayton Ince, the 21-year-old produced a string of sensational saves to leave the Robins fluttering just one point above the League One drop zone.
It took a spectacular injury-time strike from the unrelenting Paynter to deny Gilmartin a clean sheet, but for Town the goal proved scant consolation.
Just 30 seconds earlier Alex Nicholls had headed home Richard Taundry's centre to give the Saddlers a two-goal cushion, as Swindon conceded in the 90th minute for the third game in succession.
The defeat was a major blow for Town, and for Paynter in particular, who should have been celebrating a hat-trick.
"We came here high on confidence, hoping to get a result today," the striker admitted afterwards."
Swindon Advertiser
"David Byrne's mystical prediction on Thursday that someone was soon going to suffer a 'right hiding' at the hands of his side failed to materialise- but if games were won on procession alone, it would have done at the Bank's stadium on Saturday.
The Swindon caretaker boss labelled the Saddlers 'lucky' to come away from the game celebrating a valuable 3 points in his post-match press conference before, checking himself by saying, "lucky is probably the right word"-but there were very few that could argue with the initial assessment."
Western Daily Press
"Town's next manager should be installed by the time the Robins visit Crewe Alexandra on Saturday week, the Advertiser understands.
Chairman Andrew Fitton is expected to hold final interviews in a secret location on Wednesday, December 10, with the new man possibly taking the reins for the trip to Gresty Road.
Fitton revealed one manager had already 'cemented his place' on the shortlist, but insists former Town star Colin Calderwood and England under 21 boss Stuart Pearce have not been approached.
Calderwood was rumoured to be in the running to replace Maurice Malpas if he lost his job at Nottingham Forest, but Fitton has categorically denied any approach.
He said: "Colin Calderwood has always been on our list but we have not approached him.
"He is in a job and it would not be right to put pressure on that. For his sake, I want Colin to keep that job. "
Swindon Advertiser
"Whether he ends up in the County Ground hotseat or not, Dave Byrne insists the next Town manager's first priority must be to sort out the teams brittle defence.
Swindon conceded two goals for the fifth consecutive match on Saturday, as their six-game unbeaten run cam shuddering to a halt at Walsall.
Caretaker boss Byrne has made no secret of his desire to become Maurice Malpas's permanent successor, but knows results must improve if he is to have any realistic chance of being handed the reins.
"Anybody that is in the chair is going to be judged on results and I am no different", said Byrne."
Swindon Advertiser
"Swindon Town have failed in an audacious bid to make Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear the new manager at the County Ground.
It is understood that conversations were held with the former Wimbledon manager's representatives last week - when his long-term situation at St.James's Park still remained unclear - to find out whether the Swindon job would be of possible interest if he was to depart the Premier League club.
The Dublin-born manager had been on a month-to-month rolling contract after replacing Toon hero Kevin Keegan in September on an interim basis whilst owner Mike Ashley continued a bid to try and sell the club to a number of interested consortiums."
