TWO goals in the space of three second-half minutes was enough to condemn Swindon Town to a 2-1 defeat at home to local rivals Oxford United.

Fankaty Dabo’s bullet in the 19th minute put the hosts in front but Swindon tired as the second half wore on and in the 71st minute, Liam Sercombe tapped home from close range before Rob Hall’s stunning strike ensured the points returned to Oxfordshire, with Swindon ending the game with 10 men.

Nicky Ajose came straight into the starting line-up to replace Chelsea loanee Islam Feruz, while the only other change to the side that lost 1-0 away to Bristol Rovers a week prior was Yaser Kasim replacing John Goddard in the heart of midfield.

After a bright start from the hosts, with Nicky Ajose, on his third debut for the club, going close and Luke Norris firing over the bar, they were able to get their noses ahead.

Ajose’s cross was missed by three Oxford United defenders and when it fell to Dabo outside the box, he had the composure to take a touch before drilling the ball back where it came from and find the bottom corner.

Oxford were gifted a great chance to pull back level five minutes before the break when Rob Hall split the Town defence and despite Sercombe beating the offside trap, his touch in the area as he bore down on goal was loose and Vigouroux was able to smoother the ball before Dabo cleared the lines.

However, it was the hosts who ended the half with the best chance to double their advantage as Luke Norris played Charlie Colkett into the box and from a tight angle, the midfielder dithered on the ball and seemingly caught in two minds as to whether to shoot or pass, saw his eventual strike clatter into the body of Eastwood.

Swindon looked off the pace as they came out for the second half and were put under the cosh by Michael Appleton’s side.

The pressure from the visitors finally took its toll in the 71st minute when Marvin Johnson got to byline and his ball across the face of goal fell to Sercombe, who despite scuffing his first attempt, was able to find the back of the net and send the travelling fans behind the goal into pandemonium.

It only took three minutes for that pandemonium to turn into hysteria when Sercombe dropped the ball off to Hall on the edge of the box and he let rip with his right foot and it dipped perfectly under Vigouroux’s bar.

Swindon ended the game with Raphael Branco in goal as goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was shown a straight red for a foul outside the box on Kane Hemmings.

There were sour scenes once the whsitle had been blown also as skipper Nathan Thompson had to be pulled away from Chris Maguire.

Swindon Town: Vigouroux; Dabo, Jones, Branco, Brophy; Thompson, Kasim (Thomas 76’), Colkett (Hylton 83’), Gladwin (Goddard 80’); Ajose, Norris

Unused subs: Henry, Rodgers, Starkey, Conroy

Referee: Darren Deadman

Attendance: 10,658