MARTIN Ling is certainly making his mark on Swindon. His side which defeated Walsall was unrecognisable from previous teams. It had been injected with grim determination and played some grim football, but they showed resistance, fortitude and attracted a lot of luck.

When Ling was appointed, and particularly the last week, we were told that he wouldn’t be allowed to manage. Those who purport to be ‘in the know’ told us that he couldn’t truly pick the team or the change the way that it played. Except he clearly did, and he has.

Tuesday was like nothing we’ve seen for years: direct, dogged and characterised by rougher, chaotic defending. Walsall were defeated by a team hitting long passes for the excellent Jon Obika to flick on, or for Nicky Ajose to chase into the corners.

As for playing out from the back, clearly Ling’s intention was to do no such thing.

Expecting Raphael Rossi Branco taking the ball from Lawrence Vigouroux and pass to a team mate? Might as well ask a diplodocus to plumb in a dishwasher: neither has the tools, skills or temperament.

Ling also altered the shape of the team. Not just in shifting to a 3-5-2 but also in asking his youthful but limited wingbacks to press Walsall in their own half.

There was some risk in leaving the wider defenders exposed – Adam El-Abd in particular - but it meant that the midfield trio could hold their position and prevent Walsall running straight onto the defence.

The composition of the team has changed - as much as the loan overload allows. Out have gone the ineffective Henrik Ojamaa, the back-combed buffoon Jeremy Balmy and the lesser-spotted Momar Bangoura.

Anton Rodgers was also dropped and, as disappointing as his recent performances have been, booing a Town player on the pitch is something I personally don’t like.

Obviously the biggest change has been that the two home games have yielded six points. While neither has seen good performances or been good to watch, both have indicated that Ling’s management is slowly having a positive impact, now and hopefully on the rest of this season.