Swindon Town's FA Cup journey concluded with a 2-1 loss at Milton Keynes Dons' Stadium MK on Saturday. The loss ends their brief cup run and contrasts with a recent upturn in their League Two form, where they sit 13th with 19 points from 14 games, having recorded five wins, four draws and five losses this season.
Marvin Ekpiteta put the League One hosts ahead after six minutes, with Aaron Collins doubling the lead seven minutes later. Aaron Drinan, Swindon's top scorer this season with 22 goals in 40 appearances, pulled one back in first-half stoppage time, converting after a James Ball assist. The goal gave Ian Holloway's side a lifeline but they could not find an equaliser despite late pressure.
Swindon made a positive start to the second half, forcing MK Dons backwards. A key moment arrived on 70 minutes when Tom Nichols, who had just come on, made a key block to deny Aaron Collins a clear chance. Nichols was later booked, one of two yellow cards for Town alongside Anthony Munda's first-half caution. Substitute Ollie Palmer went down in the box late on, prompting penalty appeals from the travelling support, but nothing was given.
Holloway's half-time message
Ian Holloway made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, introducing Kaelan Majekodunmi and Nichols, and later sent on Palmer and Jaylan Pearman. The changes injected energy, with Pearman involved in a late chance that forced a save from Dons goalkeeper MacGillivray. Holloway's side finished the game strongly, but the equaliser eluded them.
This result halts a positive sequence for Swindon, whose recent form reads two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five league outings, a run that includes a 2-1 win over Rotherham and a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers. Their focus now returns to League Two, where they are 12 points behind leaders Salford City and have scored 15 goals while conceding 17. They will look to respond immediately in their next fixture at home to sixth-placed Grimsby on Saturday 14 November. That match offers a swift chance to bounce back from cup disappointment.
