Town ended their away travels in 2023 with a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Kemp opened the scoring with a smart finish in the first half, but second-half goals through Kieron Morris and Tom Davies for Tranmere saw them come away with the three points.
Town named one change from their previous league outing, with Tyrese Shade, recalled in place of Udoka Godwin-Malife, who missed today's game due to suspected food poisoning, with Swindon currently missing five other first-team central defenders due to injury.
It was a bright start from the home side, with Swindon doing well to maintain Tranmere's early pressure.
The first two efforts of the game came from Regan Hendry from distance that was well-blocked, before Rob Apter tried to find the finish that Murphy Mahoney was equal to in the 14th minute.
However, Town would take the lead midway through the first half, with Dan Kemp finding the back of the net with a brilliant tight-angled finish in the 22nd minute.
After picking up the ball towards the centre circle, Kemp drove forward and combined with wing-back Remeao Hutton.
He picked his spot with a powerful effort that beat Luke McGee from an impressively narrow-angle.
Tranmere responded 10 minutes later, with Brad Walker firing from range, but thankfully for Town, it was way over the bar.
Three minutes later, Williams Kokolo looked to set up Kemp for his second of the afternoon, but his effort from a corner on the left-hand side was dragged wide of the near post.
A great opening fell Swindon's way straight after this chance, with midfielder George McEachran linking up with goalscorer Kemp in the 37th minute.
After looking to take the ball past Luke McGee in the Tranmere goal, unfortunately, the home side's keeper was able to grab it.
Tranmere applied late pressure as they pushed for an equaliser before the break, but thankfully Town's defence stepped up and Liam Kinsella provided a brilliant block to deny them two opportunities in the final clear openings of the first half.
Half-time: Tranmere 0 Swindon Town 1
It would be the home side who found the next goal, with Connor Jennings able to come forward and after a good save from Murphy Mahoney originally, the ball fell to Kieron Morris who unfortunately smashed home the follow-up.
There was an immediate reaction from Swindon, with a dangerous cross from Remeao Hutton met by skipper Charlie Austin, who saw his downward header tipped away by Luke McGee, as Town looked for their second.
Murphy Mahoney was called into a couple of smart saves from Tranmere attacks following this opportunity, as the game began to open up for the remaining 30 minutes.
A similar opportunity fell the way of Austin in the 66th minute, with the header again saved by McGee.
With Mahoney shortly forced off through injury, Lewis Ward entered the field of play and it was a challenging start on his return to league action, as shortly after coming on, Tranmere captain Tom Davies would find his side's second of the game from close range.
Swindon had to look to change their gameplan late on and pushed for an equaliser, which they thought they'd found in the 86th minute, only to see the goal chalked off for offside.
After Dan Kemp released the wing-back down the left-hand side, Shade showed great composure to slot it past Luke McGee, only to frustratingly see the lineman's flag raised as he turned around.
Despite pushing for a late goal, Tranmere were able to hold on, leaving Town to focus on their next game in three days with Wrexham visiting The County Ground on Boxing Day.
Tranmere Rovers: McGee, O'Connor (Yarney 77), Walker, Davies (C), Turnbull, Morris, Hendry, Jennings, Saunders (Hawkes 59), Apter (Jolley 90), Wood
Goals: Morris 55, Davies 72
Subs not used: Murphy, Taylor, McAlear, Norris
Swindon Town: Mahoney (L.Ward 71), Hutton, McEachran (Cain 77), Young, Khan, Kemp, Kokolo, Kinsella, Shade, Minturn, Austin (C)
Goal: Kemp 22
Subs not used: Genesini, Dworzak, McGregor, Brown, Hart
Referee: Sunny Gill
Attendance: 5,894 (266 away fans)
