Swindon Town slipped to their second successive 2-1 defeat after a disappointing performance against mid-table Doncaster Rovers despite drawing level just after half-time, writes Adrian Smith.

Swindon went behind to a first half goal by Brian Stock but had drawn level in the 47th minute thanks to a goalkeeping blunder but  then allowed their Yorkshire visitors to leave with all three points after a mix-up in the Robins defence.

The match started brightly for Doncaster who were awarded a free-kick in the first minute which saw Brian Stock send in a vicious curling shot which was pushed away by Peter Brezovan before the ball was hoofed away by Craig Easton. Swindon counterattacked straightaway which led to Simon Cox needing treatment when he collided with opposing keeper Neil Sullivan while chasing a through ball by Lee Peacock but the Town forward was able to continue after treatment.

The game had started slowly although Manuel Comminges did his best to liven up proceedings in the 14^th minute with a long range shot but the ball struck a defender and was cleared. Two minutes later Zaaboub had a loud appeal for a penalty when the ball struck the hand of Matthew Mills from close range but the referee waved his appeals before awarding a corner to Town which was eventually cleared.

Doncaster had their first corner in the 18^th minute but that came to nothing because the referee awarded a free-kick to Swindon for pushing by Rovers forward Jason Price.

Simon Cox will have been annoyed with himself after firing into the sidenetting after being put clear by Paynter in the Rovers penalty area midway through the half.

Hasney Aljofree showed some real defensive class with a well timed tackle on Lewis Guy who was charging towards the Swindon goal but Aljofree flicked the ball away at the expense of a corner which Town dealt with easily.

Simon Cox was featuring in much of Town's attacking without being able to get a clear chance on goal and Swindon were caught out by a swift counterattack in the 32^nd minute which saw Brian Stock fire home from the edge of the area although Brezovan did get a glove to the ball, it ricocheted upwards and into the back of the net.

Brezovan kept Town in the game a few minutes later when dived bravely at the feet of Lewis Guy who was charging towards goal and the Town keeper did well to snatch the ball at the second attempt to deny the Rovers forward.

The play was being contained mainly in midfield with no clear cut chances for either team before the half time whistle was blown to end a dismal first half for Swindon.

Half Time: Swindon Town 0 Doncaster Rovers 1

The second half started in dramatic fashion with Swindon snatching an equaliser in comedy fashion as Rovers veteran keeper Neil Sullivan managed to let go of a soft cross by Zaaboub at the feet of Simon Cox who was on hand to prod the ball home from close range despite being felled by a defender and the on-loan striker gleefully celebrated his 6th goal in Town colours.

The first yellow card of the match went to Matthew Mills who disputed a free-kick awarded against him for a foul on Zaaboub in the 60th minute but McGovern's cross from the free-kick was headed away by the Rovers defence.

Both teams were going all out for the second goal as the half wore on with Lee Peacock firing in a spectacular overhead kick which only just went wide of the upright.

Simon Cox did well to chase down a long ball in the 72nd minute to attack the Rovers defence but he was crowded out before backheeling the ball to Zaaboub who wasted Cox's efforts with a tame shot at Sullivan. Disaster struck one minute later when Rovers were gifted an equaliser by the Town defence who failed to clear a weak cross from James Hayter and the ball rebounded straight to Lewis Guy who had the relatively easy task of sidefooting past Brezovan from close range.  

Paul Sturrock decided to make his first change of the afternoon replacing Sofiene Zaaboub with Christian Roberts in the 76th minute and the visitors replaced Guy with Martin Woods in the 78th minute. Two minutes later Billy Paynter was replaced by Barry Corr who had made such a dramatic impact in the last home game against Tranmere. 

James Hayter was looking lively up front for Doncaster firing in two shots including one which only just curled wide in the 85th minute and at the other end Lee Peacock did well to get on the end of a cross to volley goalwards but his effort went straight to Neil Sullivan who was able to catch the ball with ease.

Blair Sturrock replaced Andy Nicholas with two minutes remaining as Town went all out to try and snatch an equaliser but it was the visitors who again went close in the three minutes of added time when a cross by Green was only just missed by Martin Woods and that proved to be the last main action of a disappointing match for Swindon Town.