Swindon's first ever visit to The Keepmoat Stadium ended in defeat with a goal in each half from promotion-chasing Doncaster enough to secure victory on Friday night.

What as an uphill challenge before the game became even tougher following a straight red card for Captain Hasney Aljofree. Brian Stock tucked away the resulting penalty, doubling the lead after Sean McDaid had fired Rovers ahead early on.

Doncaster opted for a three-pronged attack with former Swindon loanee Mark McCammon joined by the experienced Gareth Taylor and Lewis Guy in the front line.

Swindon were able to name the same line-up that had put three goals past Oldham Athletic last weekend, with Lee Peacock partnering Simon Cox as the striking pair.

The home side went close with just three minutes on the clock with Brian Stock hitting a 20-yard effort into the side netting with Brezovan scrambling across.

Town had their first opportunity just sixty seconds later when Simon Cox broke free down the left and having advanced into the box, opted to shoot rather than square the ball to the unmarked Peacock, with the resulting shot easily blocked.

Both goalkeepers took their time to find their distance from the floor, with kicks from Brezovan and former Tottenham Hotspur keeper Neil Sullivan going wayward.

Jerel Ifil showed flexed his defensive muscles on 10 minutes as his pace and power snuffed out the run of McCammon who had broken free down the left hand side.

The well-marshalled Town defence frustrated the home side on numerous occasions before the twenty minute mark was up, with Town doing well to quell Doncaster's early surges upfield.

Peter Brezovan produced an excellent stop from close range on 23 minutes. Gareth Taylor's flick on found Guy in space and his first time shot from 16 yards was beaten away by the big Slovakian with the promotion chasers beginning to get ahead in the possession stakes.

Town's first corner arrived with half an hour played. The set-piece from McGovern was cleared by the home defence with The Robins unable to make the most of their opportunity.

The home side took the lead six minutes before the break. A reverse pass from former Nottingham Forest striker Gareth Taylor sent Sean McDaid clear and he fired home from 16 yards past Brezovan to hand his side the lead.

H/T: Doncaster Rovers 1 Swindon Town 0

Town emerged unchanged for the second period, knowing they would need a much improved attacking performance if they were going to take anything from the game.

Brian Stock, Doncaster's captain, fizzed a 25 yard effort narrowly wide on 48 minutes with the home side looking to double their advantage.

Maurice Malpas made an early change on 50 minutes with Billy Paynter coming off the bench to replace Anthony McNamee, who had hardly touched the ball all game, finding life difficult against the physical presence of right-back James O'Connor. Paynter was employed on the left of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, but allowed to push on to form a three during Swindon's attacking periods.

Michael Timlin then lifted a left-foot free-kick narrowly wide two minutes later before Paynter was denied by covering centreback Sam Hird.

Town's best chance of the game so far arrived on 55 minutes with Neil Sullivan producing an excellent save to deny Paynter. After a back header from Roberts fell short, Paynter nipped in but his lofted effort from ten yards was brilliantly tipped over by the experienced stopper.

Michael Timlin became the second Swindon player of the evening to be cautioned on 63 minutes after a mistimed challenge before Doncaster forced another corner which eventually Hird headed wide.

Town were down to ten men on 65 minutes with Hasney Aljofree shown a straight red. After McCammon had beaten the offside trap, the big striker raced towards goal with the Town defence left trailing. Aljofree's sliding challenge inside the area saw McCammon felled, with the referee left with little choice but to show a straight red card.

Brian Stock stepped up and sent Brezovan the wrong way from the spot to put his side into a two-goal advantage.

The Swindon re-shuffle followed, with Andy Nicholas replacing Simon Cox, and Jamie Vincent moving inside to centreback.

Doncaster continued to surge forward against the ten men but were unable to breach the Town defence again, despite a plethora of second half possession. Admittedly the damage had been done, although Swindon, to their credit, defended resolutely.

Andy Nicholas could have pulled a goal back on 81 minutes but he saw his 81st minute header land in the arms of Sullivan from close range following a Timlin free-kick into the box.

Another excellent chance fell Swindon's way with five minutes remaining. J-P McGovern's incisive ball through to Paynter saw the striker presented with a one on one with Sullivan, but the substitute could only fired tamely at Sullivan after advancing into the area from the left.

Full-time: Doncaster Rovers 2 Swindon Town 0

Goal: McDaid '39, Stock ' 65

Swindon Town: Peter Brezovan; Jack Smith, Jerel Ifil, Hasney Aljofree ©, Jamie Vincent; J-P McGovern, Craig Easton, Michael Timlin, Anthony McNamee; Simon Cox, Lee Peacock

Substitutes: Phil Smith (GK), Andy Nicholas, Billy Paynter, Kaid Mohamed, Michael Pook

Referee: S Matthieson

Attendance: 8,371 (340 from Swindon)