SWINDON TOWN suffered late trauma as they surrendered three points and their nine-game unbeaten run to three headers in a 3-2 loss.

Bastien Hery was the villain of the piece as his stoppage time winner gave Rochdale all three points and their first ever win against Swindon. It was a failure to pick up at two set-pieces that was ultimately Town’s downfall having lead 1-0 at the half-way point.

Anton Rodgers first start at SN1 yielded his first goal but then Matt Lund and Peter Vincenti put Dale in command. Michael Smith’s eighth of the season pulled the host’s level and they had a number of chances before Hery broke 6,718 Swindon hearts.

Cooper made three changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s draw at Yeovil. Intriguingly Yaser Kasim was moved into the centre of Town’s defence in place of the suspended captain Nathan Thompson. Louis Thompson dropped to the bench, with Ben Gladwin getting his first start since being injured against Brighton. Andy Williams came in for deserved spot in the first XI after his goal at the weekend.

Rodgers also got his league debut and he nearly cost Town the first goal. Gifting Rochdale the ball in the middle of the field, Done was free to play in Ian Henderson. His shot was low and straight at Wes Foderingham but he the Town ‘keeper had to be sharp to make the save with his feet.

Unlike at Huish Park Foderingham was afforded loads of room to play, bringing the ball up nearly to the halfway line more than once. Keith Hill had clearly informed his players to stand off and man mark in their half. It stifled the game in the opening period as neither team were able to find a rhythm.

For the home side Nathan Byrne looked most likely to provide something in a flat first 25 minutes. The wing-back looked to enjoying getting at Scott Tanser, firstly Byrne was released inside him by Massimo Luongo before teasing in a dangerous cross. Next he glided away from his man before stumbling under a challenge, but Stephen Martin was unmoved.

Williams was the first Town player to get a clear shot off. Put in by a brave Luongo tackle the pacey striker carried the ball for 60 yards, cut inside the covering defender before firing over.

Amari’i Bell looks as if he will get an extended run in the Swindon side with Brad Smith now returned to Liverpool. It was he who played the big part in the opening goal. Carrying the ball from his own half Bell rolled it into the area. Evading a number of defenders and on-rushing Town attackers it eventually fell to Rodgers who placed home his first Swindon goal.

The game opened up more before the conclusion of the half. Williams was next to give Logan some trouble. Another strong run from Bell made space on the edge of the box, the ball eventually came to Town’s seven-goal striker and he clipped a chip which had the Dale keeper backpedalling but the ball went just over.

Ian Henderson had enjoyed a good 45 minutes for the visitors and was easily their most dangerous player, being involved with a number of threatening moments for Dale. However, when tasked with converting their best chance the wide-man folded under the pressure. A Kasim mistake allowed him to burst through but he put his shot well wide from the penalty spot under no challenge.

Without much fanfare Rochdale were allowed to equalise after just four minutes in the second half. Bell was caught out by a through ball inside him to Done, he jinked back on to his left and clipped in a cross for Lund to steer a free header past Foderingham.

Vincenti completed the game’s turn around in the 60th minute. Jack Stephens, moved to sweeper after as Town reshuffled following Louis Thompson’s introduction, conceded a soft corner. The Jerseyman was allowed a free run and header to put his side into the lead.

It took a set-piece to get Swindon back level. Substitute Jake Reeves initially had a shot from the edge of the box, well saved by Logan. From Kasim’s corner the ball came to Michael Smith who flicked in delicately.

Town then had a couple of big chances to score. Byrne skipped into the box should have shot, instead he tried to find a Jonathan Obika, on as a substitute, he couldn’t but the ball fell to Williams but he scuffed wide.

Then Hery made his intervention, Stephens conceded a corner too easily and for the second time in the night Town’s defence let a Dale man get a run at a decent ball, the Frenchman thundering his header in.

It was a harsh lesson for Town, who put in an average performance without being terrible. Average does not guarantee victory and can cost defeat, if Cooper’s men are to make a serious fist at promotion then they need to win games like this, or at the very least not give away a loss.