Buyabu sees red after four minutes, Thomson breaks through in stoppage time, and Hungbo's free-kick sees Swindon home after Iorfa's dismissal
By Our Special Correspondent
Rotherham's afternoon at the County Ground went wrong after four minutes, when Jili Buyabu, chasing a loose ball with Jack Thomson, turned and jumped into him with his elbow raised. He was sent off for violent conduct. They held out until the end of the first half, and they took Swindon to the wire, but Ian Holloway's side won 2-1 in front of 7,515.
With an extra man, Swindon had the ball almost all afternoon. They had 74 per cent possession and 15 shots to Rotherham's three. For most of the first half, though, they struggled to make it count. Stephan Negru headed over from a corner, Julian Eyestone saved from Matty Virtue, and Billy Kirkman went close twice from distance. Mitchell Clark and Tom Nichols both headed just wide.
The breakthrough
Holloway brought on Joseph Hungbo for James Ball three minutes before the break, and Eyestone saved Joe Snowdon's shot from range soon after. Then, three minutes into first-half stoppage time, Dan Butler found Jack Thomson 25 yards out, and a deflection took his shot away from Eyestone. It was Thomson's first goal for Swindon.
Alex Bruce's side came out with more after half-time. Jayce Fitzgerald forced Connor Ripley into a save on 50 minutes, and Bruce made three changes at once on 55 minutes, though one of them came because of an injury to Joe Rafferty, the captain, who was making his 500th career appearance. Swindon couldn't add to their lead. Butler and substitute Ollie Palmer both shot wide from distance.
Nine men, and a nervy finish
Rotherham's task got even harder on 79 minutes. Dominic Iorfa, the last man, brought down Matty Virtue and was sent off, and Bruce was sent from the touchline too. Hungbo, a former Rotherham player, stepped up to the free-kick and struck it with his left foot into the top left corner.
That should have been that. But on 87 minutes Connor Ripley, a virtual spectator all afternoon, dropped a routine cross, and Denzel Hall fired in his first goal of the season. Eight minutes of stoppage time followed, and Sonny Aljofree dragged a shot wide in the second of them. Swindon held on.
"I hated every second of that"
With an extra man for 86 minutes and two extra for the last 11, Swindon should have won this comfortably. Holloway knew it, and he didn't pretend otherwise.
That was the most bizarre game that I have ever seen in my life. Their first challenge, what was he doing? It was absolutely crazy. It looked like he meant it and smashed him in the face.
Ian Holloway, Swindon Town manager
It's testing every bit of my experience, and I'm completely exhausted now because I hated every second of that.
Ian Holloway, Swindon Town manager
We were lucky to do it in the end. It was absolutely hideous, but we've got three points. If you look at where we are on the table now compared to where we might have been if we'd only got one, then I'll take that all day long.
Ian Holloway, Swindon Town manager
Rotherham were brave, but they stay deep in trouble, and they will have two more players suspended.
With Alex Bruce sent off, assistant Steve Agnew spoke for Rotherham, now winless in seven.
The emotions run high. I think he kicked the bottle and apparently that is something that's not permitted, which results in a red card.
Steve Agnew, Rotherham United assistant boss (PA)
I've never, as a coach, been through scenarios week after week where everything seems to go against you.
LEAGUE TWO