Swindon Town's poor form deepened with a 1-0 defeat away to Rochdale in League Two on Saturday. A late red card for defender Kaelan Majekodunmi proved key before Cian Hayes scored the winner for the hosts with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
The loss leaves Ian Holloway's side 13th in the table with 11 points from their opening nine games. Their recent form now reads five matches without a win, a sequence that includes four defeats.
Holloway set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation at Spotland, making several changes during the game. The match was a tight affair, with Rochdale enjoying more of the ball but Swindon managing to create a couple of clear chances.
Discipline costs Town
The game turned in the final ten minutes. Majekodunmi received his first yellow card for a foul in the 81st minute. Just four minutes later, a second booking saw him dismissed, forcing Swindon to see out the closing stages with ten men.
Rochdale immediately capitalised on the numerical advantage. In the 88th minute, a cross from veteran defender Aden Flint found Cian Hayes, who headed past Connor Ripley to decide the contest. Swindon's top scorer Aaron Drinan, who has 22 goals this season, was substituted shortly before the goal and could not influence the finale.
Swindon must now regroup quickly. They return to the County Ground next Saturday to face high-flying Crewe Alexandra, who currently sit third. A look at the upcoming fixtures shows the importance of halting this slide. The team will also be hoping for a boost from the return of key players, with the latest injuries list being closely monitored.
