Gunning heaps praise on young Swindon Town duo despite defeat at Walsall

Interim boss Gavin Gunning heaped praise on Swindon Town’s youngsters despite falling to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Walsall.

With Town safe from the drop in League Two, Gunning hinted he would look to blood some fresh faces in the coming weeks with a view to next season’s campaign.

He gave a first league start to midfielder Joel McGregor, with 16-year-old defender Harley Hunt coming off the bench for the second half in place of Tom Brewitt, who had picked up an injury.

Speaking about the youngsters post-match, Gunning said: “Their left wing-back is decent and Joel pinned him down, he was running the other way and he was a constant threat for us. I am really proud of him.

"Harley is only 16 years old, I can't imagine there are too many 16-year-olds out there playing in League Two.

"He has done really well, he has got to learn from it and that second phase when it comes down and you have to react, but his performance was fantastic.

"His composure for a 16-year-old was unbelievable and he is a physical specimen as well.

"He is going to be a proper player, there is no doubt about it, we just need to nurture him and improve him as a player."

Paul Glatzel’s second-half goal looked to have sealed a point for Swindon, cancelling out Mo Faal’s 11th-minute opener.

But substitute Danny Johnson combined with Jamille Matt for the Saddlers to find a winner one minute from time.

"That performance was fantastic, with the result we were very disappointed and everyone is low in there, but the performance was fantastic,” said Gunning.

Town make the trip to Grimsby for their penultimate league game of the season on Saturday (3pm).

(Picture: Rob Noyes)