Town made a solid start to the game with Anthony McNamee picking up from where he had left off against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. The winger put in several early balls and Jon-Paul McGovern almost made the most of one centre, although Lee Camp was alert in the Rangers goal to claim.

Iain Dowie saw his side soon on the attack. Backed by well over a thousand travelling supporters, Mikele Leigertwood saw his ball in from the right headed behind by Smith. Emmanuel Ledesma then saw his effort deflected round for a corner before Blackstock's volley was denied by Brezovan in the ninth minute.

Town then made a quick escape from their own half with Jon-Paul McGovern's centre finding Morrison who headed narrowly wide from close range.

QPR were soon back on the attack with a flurry of corners putting Town under further pressure in front of the Stratton Bank.

Swindon saw Simon Cox's flicked effort deflected over from close range. The resulting corner eventually saw Paynter bring a flying save out of Camp, with the Town front man showing excellent technique from 16 yards.

Damien Delaney then saw his powerful run end with a close range save from Brezovan with QPR pushing for the opener with 19 minutes on the clock. Blackstock then brought another save out of Brezovan after the former Oxford striker had got a shot away inside the area after bustling his way though.

Ledesma then brought yet another save out of Brezovan with a rasping free-kick from outside the box which the Town stopper punched away from the top corner. It was Ledesma again at the heart of the action on 28 minutes as his drive flew inches wide.

The visitors took the lead on 32 minutes. After sustained pressure from the visitors a corner saw the ball whipped into the box with Angelo Balanta on hand to finish from close range.

The lead lasted just sixty seconds with Swindon seeing an immediate attack turn into a goal. Simon Cox's predatory skills saw him lash the ball home past Camp to make it 1-1.

Town continued to battle away with Timlin and Nalis showing tremendous endeavour at the heart of the midfield.

It was Swindon who took the lead on 42 minutes. After Nalis had sent McNamee away down the left, his cross was met by Paynter whose diving header flew past Camp from ten yards.

Swindon had another good chance for McNamee at the start of added time but he could only shoot straight at keeper Lee Camp and there was just time for a QPR corner but  the ball went straight out for a goal-kick so half time arrived with Swindon in front..

Half-Time: Town 2 QPR 1

The visitors took just 35 seconds of the new half to draw level. A cross from the left was met by Blackstock who stooped to head past Brezovan to make it 2-2.

It was a dream start for Iain Dowie and his side who had been rattled before the break, but the goal offered them added composure going into the majority of the second period.

It was QPR who added the vital third goal with 54 minutes on the clock. After Aljofree had closed the ball down for a corner, the ball was centred with Damian Delaney on hand to slide the ball through a ruck of players into the back of the net.

Town had the ball in the net on 59 minutes with a left footed strike from Nalis poked home by Cox, only for the goal to be ruled out by the offside flag.

QPR continued to press with Angelo Balanta seeing his drive from just outside the box well held by Brezovan in the Town goal in front of the Town End.

Anthony McNamee's positivity going forward was impressive and the winger set up several attacks as the clock ticked past 70 minutes.

Manager Maurice Malpas made his first change of the evening on 74 minutes with Craig Easton entering the fray in place of Michael Timlin, who had put in another determined shift in the centre of midfield.

A superb right wing cross from Smith, who had overlapped McGovern, saw Delaney forced to put the ball behind for a corner. McGovern's centre found Nalis whose header looped narrowly over the bar with Swindon pushing for a third with ten to go.

Lee Peacock was introduced on 84 minutes with Jon-Paul McGovern making way with Town throwing three up front for the closing stages.

Swindon continued to press for the elusive equaliser with the Rangers dogged defence keeping them away from goal and there was a big roar from the home fans when the assistant referee indicated that five minutes of additional time would be played.  

There was another corner to the Robins but the ball was cleared straight to Jack Smith although he lost possession and Swindon were grateful for some pacy running by Casal who cut out the danger at the expense of a corner which was cleared.

The final attack of a superb match resulted in a corner for Swindon as the excitement grew all around the ground but the Rangers defence cleared the ball and then the final whistle was blown to end the Robins hopes of progressing in this year's Carling Cup.

Full Time: Town 2 QPR 3

Goals: Bolanta '32, Cox '33, Paynter '42, Blackstock '46, Delaney '54

Attendance: 7,630

Swindon Town: Peter Brezovan; Jack Smith, Sean Morrison, Hasney Aljofree, Yinka Casal; Jon-Paul McGovern, Lilian Nalis, Michael Timlin, Anthony McNamee; Billy Paynter, Simon Cox

Substitutes: Phil Smith; Callum Kennedy, Lee Peacock, Ben Joyce, Craig Easton, Chris Allen, Kevin Amankwaah

QPR: Lee Camp; Damien Delaney (c), Damion Stewart, Mikele Leighterwood, Daniel Pajero, Dexter Blackstock, Kaspars Gorkss, Matthew Connelly, Lee Cook, Angelo Balanta, Emmanuel Ledesma

Substitutes: Radek Cerny; Patrick Agyemang, Adam Bolder, Peter Ramage, Matteo Alberti, Samuel Di Carmine, Gareth Ainsworth