SWINDON Town put Queens Park Rangers through the wringer but a gutsy display wasn’t enough for Luke Williams’ men as penalty heartbreak denied them an upset in the EFL Cup.

In only their second outing of the season, Town showed heart in abundance and plenty of invention at Loftus Road – they were even forced to play extra-time with just 10 men on the pitch after an injury to impressive debutant Lloyd Jones – and twice came from behind to draw 2-2 and force spot-kicks against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Championship promotion-chasers.

But two shootout saves from Rangers keeper Matt Ingram to deny Anton Rodgers and Bradley Barry, coupled with four inch-perfect home efforts, saw the hosts progress into the second round.

After failing to register in time for Saturday’s League One opener against Coventry City, new signings Luke Norris and Jones were handed their Town bows at Loftus Road, although Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill was serving the final game of his suspension and striker Jonathan Obika was also not in the Town squad, with his absence attributed to a groin injury.

Former Town men Ben Gladwin and Grant Hall were placed on the bench by Rangers boss Hasselbaink whilst Massimo Luongo, who joined the west Londoners alongside Gladwin in a multi-million pound deal in May 2015, missed out on a reunion with his former club altogether.

Swindon began brightly and some measured build-up play saw Conor Thomas – restored to midfield after his defensive cameo in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Coventry – back-heel the ball into the path of Barry, who teed up Rodgers for a strike from the edge of the area, but his effort was too weak to trouble Ingram.

The visitors’ bright start continued, with Yaser Kasim flashing a left-footed effort wide after a smart one-two with Thomas, but the Town crossbar was soon rattling after Darnell Furlong met Yeni Ngbakoto’s cross and cracked a header against the woodwork.

That chance sparked a flurry of Rangers pressure, although up the other end, a freak loose ball handed Norris an early chance to mark his debut with a goal but the striker dallied for a millisecond too long and his attempt to round Ingram ended with the home keeper stretching out a palm to deny Town the lead.

Another shooting opportunity was to fall the way of Norris shortly afterwards but Ingram again saved his left-footed effort whilst at the other end, Karl Henry’s glorious driven ball picked out Ngbakoto in space but the angle tightened quickly and he was unable to tee-up Northern Ireland international Conor Washington for a tap-in.

With 24 minutes on the clock, Williams’ men allowed Rangers’ Furlong a free header from a corner once again but Lawrence Vigouroux was on hand to beat away the full-back’s goalbound attempt and keep the scores level.

Norris’ personal battle with Ingram continued, with Thomas teeing up the Town striker on the edge of the box, but he saw his powerful strike knocked away by the home custodian’s legs.

And then, just past the half-hour mark, Rodgers opened up the QPR back line with an intelligent through ball, allowing James Brophy to flash a low cross into the box, but a clutch of waiting red shirts couldn’t make contact before Thomas was crowded out at the far post.

The final chance of the half, and one of Town’s greatest, fell to Norris, who was played in by Kasim’s through ball, only for his goalbound effort from a wide angle to be chopped off the line by a scrambling James Perch.

In the second period, Swindon continued to give their hosts plenty of cause for concern but just before the hour mark, shortly after a promising Town move had broken down, the home side opened the scoring.

Abdenasser El Khayati found space down the left flank and although Washington could only meet it with a feather touch, wide man Ngbakoto arrived at the far post to bundle home and make it 1-0.

Shortly after going a goal behind, Swindon head coach Williams opted to make three changes and his substitutions had the desired effect, albeit with a huge slice of luck.

Norris smacked a ball against a QPR man but the rebound looped invitingly into the path of Jordan Stewart, sending the 21-year-old clear on goal.

The Northern Irishman, whose career in English football had struggled to get off the ground following his move to the County Ground from Glentoran last year, took his strike early and, seemingly also channelling months of frustration, he lashed a dipping stunner past a despairing Ingram to level the tie.

The QPR goalie had to get down well to claw away Norris’ effort from a quickly-taken free-kick as a reinvigorated Town went searching for a late winner but they were forced to extend their efforts into extra-time – it would be with 10 men however, as defender Jones was unable to carry on playing through the pain barrier following an earlier knock.

And the hosts’ man advantage was made to count just three minutes after the restart as Sebastian Polter crossed into the feet of fellow substitute Tjaronn Chery, who swivelled and teed up Washington to blast home from close range to undo all of Swindon’s good work.

Rangers weren’t done there and they continued to press the issue home, Vigouroux once again denying Furlong as he superbly tipped away the defender’s goalbound header.

They may have had little left in the tank but Town never gave up and moments into the second half of extra-time, Tom Smith clipped a ball into the path of Stewart, his powerful strike was pushed away by Ingram and an arriving Brophy stroked home another dramatic equaliser with his weaker right foot.

Despite Polter threatening multiple times in the final throes and Jordan Cousins flashing a thunderbolt inches wide of the Swindon post, leaving an absorbing clash to be settled from 12 yards.

Swindon Town: Lawrence Vigouroux, Lloyd Jones, Nathan Thompson (Ellis Iandolo 60), Jamie Sendles-White, Bradley Barry, Conor Thomas, Yaser Kasim (Tom Smith 64), Anton Rodgers, James Brophy, Jermaine Hylton (Jordan Stewart 64), Luke Norris.

Subs not used: Will Henry, John Goddard, Jake Evans, Jordan Young.

Attendance: 5,440 (866 away supporters)