Jerel Ifil's sensational 79th minute diving header sealed all three points after Millwall had cancelled out Simon Cox's first half opener, writes Adrian Smith
Swindon Town boss Paul Sturrock made three changes to his starting line-up at The New Den with Sam Collins handed his Swindon debut and he will have been pleased with his contribution in Swindon's first away win of the season. Christian Roberts was also brought into the starting eleven in place of Sofiene Zaaboub whilst Jack Smith returned at right-back.
Billy Paynter and Simon Cox were up front once again after four goals between the pair in the last outing against AFC Bournemouth.
Swindon made a bright start earning a corner after 11 seconds when a McGovern cross was deflected behind but the resulting ball across was cleared long by the Lions defence and at the other end Dave Brammer fired wide for the home side.
The Robins went ahead with an absolutely superb goal in the 8th minute when Jack Smith and Christian Roberts played a one-two move which saw Smith run into the penalty area and send a first time ball across the area where Simon Cox tapped home at the far post to give Swindon the lead for his second goal in as many games for the Robins.
Millwall responded strongly and had appeals for a penalty turned down in the 17th minute when the ball struck Jack Smith on the hand but the referee decided that it was not deliberate. Two minutes later Jerel Ifil conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area but the ball was fired wide by Brammer.
Billy Paynter went close to adding to his goal tally for the season with a smart turn and shot from close range after a long throw by Sam Collins but the Town forward shot straight at keeper Robert Douglas and he caught the ball.
Millwall counterattacked strongly but were denied by some solid defending by debutant Sam Collins who cleared the danger in the 20th minute.
Jerel Ifil did well to head a goalbound shot by Andy Frampton in the 30th minute after some patient build up by the home side.
Swindon seemed content to soak up the Lions pressure while hitting their opponents on the counterattack and one Town attack saw Roberts stumble under a challenge in the penalty area but the referee ignored the half hearted appeals for a penalty.
Simon Cox almost punished some slack defensive play by Millwall when he latched onto a loose backpass before firing in a powerful shot from 25 yards which the keeper did well to tip round the post for a corner. Unfortunately for Town Sam Collins's header from the corner saw his effort fly past the post for a goal kick.
Town were gradually pushing Millwall back up the pitch and had a sustained spell of pressure which eventually saw Simon Cox penalised for offside and he then decided to shoot at goal after the whistle had been blown so the on-loan striker saw the first yellow card of the match in the 41st minute.
Sam Collins did well to cut out a dangerous attack in the 44th minute with Brammer charging into the penalty area but the Town defender put the ball out for a corner which was cleared by the defence.
Dave Brammer sent in a scorcher of a shot in the two minutes of added time but his effort dipped just over the crossbar. At the other end Vincent and McGovern earned a corner which saw Lee Peacock narrowly miss prodding the ball home for Town's second and that proved to be the last action of a good half for Paul Sturrock's men but the home side were booed off by their supporters.
Half Time:
Millwall 0 Swindon Town 1
Swindon made a bright start to the half with Roberts charging through the middle of the Lions defence but he was fouled just outside the penalty area by Dave Brammer who saw the second yellow card of the match. The resulting free-kick was taken by McGovern but his looping shot went over the bar.
The home side responded strongly and almost equalised through a freak goal when a shot by Brammer was saved by Phil Smith and the ball rebounded off Ifil towards goal but the Swindon keeper showed fantastic agility to push the ball out from under the crossbar to deny his former Club a goal.
Simon Cox wasted a gilt edged opportunity to double the lead when he was sent clear by Peacock but Cox's shot from the left edge of the area went well wide of the far post with Christian Roberts also well poised and calling for the ball.
Millwall equalised in the 57th minute when a through ball reached Jay Simpson with Jerel Ifil just unable to cut out the ball and Simpson advanced before firing past Phil Smith from ten yards to wake up the dormant Lions supporters.
The goal clearly lifted the home side and they seemed to step up a gear with the Town defence under severe pressure and they were glad to see a long punt downfield by Collins to give the Robins some respite.
Jamie Vincent was glad to see only a yellow card for a foul on Chris Hackett 20 yards from goal with the home crowd baying for a red card but the referee must have considered that Phil Smith would have been favourite to cut out the pass. The resulting free-kick was cleared by the Town defence after some frantic play on the edge of the area but the home side continued to press forward in numbers while restricting Swindon to occasional counterattacks. Paul Sturrock decided to reorganise his side and introduced Sofiene Zaaboub and Miguel Comminges midway through the half in place of the tiring McGovern and Roberts.
Chris Hackett was proving to be a thorn in the side of Town defence with a rasping shot from 25 yards which Phil Smith did well to tip round the post and Hackett was again involved from the corner with a shot from the edge of the area which Smith caught cleanly.
Town seemed to find a higher gear after the substitutions and after some determined attacking involving Jack Smith and Comminges, the Millwall defence conceded a corner which was taken by Zaaboub and headed powerfully home by Jerel Ifil for his first goal of the season to restore Town's lead on 79 minutes.
The 889 Swindon supporters in the crowd of 8,744 celebrated wildly behind the goal after seeing the Robins soak up heavy pressure before taking the lead. Paul Sturrock immediately introduced Michael Pook in place of Billy Paynter who had given the home defence a hard time all afternoon and he left the field to good applause from the appreciative Robins fans.
The home side were visibly shaken and the Town players grew in confidence as the match wore on with Cox and Comminges playing a prominent part in attack and Cox demonstrated his attacking intent with a long range shot from 30 yards which only just went over the crossbar.
Town were awarded a corner in the three minutes of added time but that was wasted by Zaaboub and there was even more drama shortly afterwards when a shot by the goalscorer Simpson seemed to strike Ifil on the arm from close range shot but the referee allowed play to continue shortly before bringing the match to a close and that was the cue for noisy celebrations from the superb Swindon support.
This was Swindon's first away win of the season and they now move into 6th place in the League with 13 points from 8 games.
Full Time: Millwall 1 Swindon Town 2
