MAT Sadler’s header 10 minutes from time prevented Swindon Town from easing their League One relegation fears as they had to settle for a draw at home to Shrewsbury Town this afternoon.

After a goalless first half, the hosts looked to have a firm hand on proceedings when John Goddard gave them the lead from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second period, with Shrews defender Aristote Nsiala also sent off for his foul on Luke Norris.

However, Swindon only held a numerical advantage for little over a quarter-of-an-hour as two silly fouls by James Brophy in the space of three minutes saw him booked on each occasion and the numbers levelled out at 10 aside.

That allowed the visitors to come back into the contest and Sadler met a Shaun Whalley free-kick late on to ensure two sides scrapping it out at the wrong end of the table had to settle for a point apiece.

After a cagey opening to proceedings, the first shot of the day eventually materialised after 10 minutes, although it was far from threatening. Conor Thomas’ ball through to Jonathan Obika was a touch over-hit but the Swindon striker gamely gave chase, picked up possession and spun to crack in a shot from 20 yards but it sailed way over the top.

Obika looked the most dangerous of Town’s offensive plays and did well to create the hosts’ next chance two minutes later, skipping into the Shrews box on the left and pulling the ball across goal but Adam El-Abd was able to get to the ball ahead of Goddard.

Striker Obika then rose highest to meet Sean Murray’s resulting corner but the home forward did not get a clean contact and his header drifted safely wide.

The visitors seemed content to put everyone behind the ball and Swindon struggled to break that down, although the one time they did on 20 minutes, it took a fine piece of goalkeeping to deny them the opening goal.

Again there was a good combination between Obika and Goddard as the latter threated his striker in on the right of the box but Shrews stopper Jayson Leutwiler raced off his line quickly and a combination of him and defender Nsiala deflected the strike over the top.

Murray was able to pick out a Swindon colleague from the ensuing corner once more but Lloyd Jones was unable to divert the ball home at the back post.

Shrewsbury had mainly been restricted to half-chances on the counter-attack and home goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux had to be alert two minutes before the break to keep the deadlock intact at half-time. Sadler met a cross from fellow full-back Joe Riley and the back-pedalling Swindon number one was forced to tip the looped header over the bar.

Swindon were the more positive side after the restart and went close to the opening goal after just four minutes. Norris held the ball up well on the left and then released Murray to win a corner and his set-piece was met with a powerful header by Raphael Branco, which flew narrowly over the top.

The hosts did not have to wait long to get the breakthrough, though, as they were awarded a penalty from their next attack.

Murray sent Norris in on goal and he was challenged by Leutwiler but won possession, only to be chopped down by Nsiala, with referee Nigel Miller pointing to the spot as well as brandishing a straight red card to the Shrews defender.

Goddard was the man to take responsibility from 12 yards and after a lengthy delay as Norris received treatment, smashed the ball straight down the middle.

Swindon were unable to sit back and relax, though, and Shrewsbury had their best chance of the game on the hour when Freddie Ladaopo got his foot on the ball 12 yards out but his strike cannoned off the head of defender Jones and flew over the top.

The hosts headed the warning a should have had a second goal soon afterwards when Obika sent Goddard in one-on-one with Leutwiler but the midfielder took a fraction too long to shoot and Sadler appeared from nowhere to get a brilliant challenge.

Having looked comfortably on top, Swindon’s numerical advantage was cancelled out with 20 minutes to go when two silly challenges from Brophy saw him booked twice in the space of three minutes as the home side suddenly found themselves down to 10 men too.

With parity in numbers restored, Shrewsbury were next to threaten as Gary Deegan was the man allowed to send in a goal-bound effort inside the box but again Jones got his body in the way.

After sending out plenty of warnings, the visitors did draw level with 10 minutes to go when Sadler rose highest to meet substitute Whalley’s deep free-kick from the left. The full-back powered a header onto the bar which bounced down on the line and the officials deemed it had crossed.

Play raced from end to end in the closing stages as both sides chased a winner but no telling chance was offered up and the teams had to settle for a point each.

SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux; Barry, Branco, Jones, Brophy; Rodgers (Kasim 72), Thomas, Murray (Hylton 78), Goddard; Norris, Obika (capt). Subs not used: Henry, Spalding, Evans, Stewart, Delfouneso.

SHREWSBURY TOWN: Leutwiler; Riley, El-Abd, Nsila, Sadler; Rodman (Whalley 77), Ogogo, Deegan, Brown; Ladapo, Dodds. Subs not used: Halstead, Grogan, Ebanks-Blake, Waring, O'Brien, Smith.

Referee: Nigel Miller

Attendance: 6,137 (259)