SWINDON Town lost for a fourth League One game in a row after a 2-1 defeat away at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.

A brace from Doncaster’s Reece James in the second half began as the result of a slow start to the latter 45 minutes before the second goal came with 20 minutes to go.

Diallang Jaiyesimi was fouled deep into added time as the same player dispatched a late penalty to give Town their consolation, but it was too little, too late.

Defeat sees Swindon spend another few days in the relegation zone alongside Oxford United – the last team John Sheridan’s men beat – though the Robins are just a point from safety.

Sheridan made two changes to the weekend's defeat to Fleetwood, with Zeki Fryers and Jonny Smith coming into the starting XI.

Anthony Grant was finally given a rest while Tyler Smith dropped to the bench, also.

Town lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Dion Conroy operating as the deep-lying midfielder – Diallang Jaiyesimi was the centre forward option.

Inside the opening minute, Town had the game's first chance.

Jack Payne and Jaiyesimi played a one-two on the edge of the box, but Payne's left-footed effort from the edge of the box was weak and straight at Joe Lumley.

Following an opening quarter of an hour where Town had the better of the possession, excellent pressing from Payne helped the visitors create the game’s next chance in the 16th minute.

Payne won the ball back inside his own half, and almost immediately picked out a rampaging Jonny Smith on the right.

Smith headed the ball down into his path, but his cross-shot when he arrived into the box was tame.

Doncaster saw a Ben Whiteman effort float off target before James Coppinger curled a free-kick straight at Matej Kovar inside the 20th minute mark.

On the half-hour mark, Swindon really ought to have taken the lead once Dion Conroy won the ball back deep inside the hosts’ half.

The Town captain slipped Jaiyesimi in inside the box, but the forward was crowded out and forced to lay off to Jonny Smith.

Smith leaned back upon striking with his left foot, and therefore curled well over when the goal was gaping.

Conroy was booked for a cynical foul on Southampton loanee Josh Sims five minutes before the break, and Kovar was more than equal to Ben Whiteman’s low free-kick as he pushed it around the post.

Just before half-time, the Swindon stopper made two excellent saves to keep his team in the game at the break.

First, Danny Amos picked the ball up outside the box following a Rovers corner, and he unleashed a powerful effort towards the top corner from 25 yards.

It seemed destined to burst the net, but Kovar sprung up to his left to turn it away, brilliantly.

Moments later, as added time ensued, Doncaster started a lovely move that resulted in a low shot from around the penalty spot, but Kovar stayed low and steady to block the ball with his legs.

Despite an excellent first half, Town started really slowly after the break and paid the ultimate price.

Payne tried to play a pass on first time but missed it and fell over. Doncaster played the ball forward straight away, it found its way through Mathieu Baudry's legs and Reece James was there to slam home left footed, despite Kovar's best efforts.

It took until just after the hour for Swindon to create anything of note, and it was almost an equaliser after good work from Jonny Smith following his switch to the left.

Smith drove at Halliday before whipping a low ball across goal for Jaiyesimi to attack.

The Town striker flicked it goalwards, but Lumley got down really well to turn it away with his legs.

Moments later, Rovers had a half chance of their own to extend their lead. Matt Smith was dispossessed in midfield and Rovers broke quickly.

The ball was fed out to Tyreece John-Jules, but he curled straight at Kovar from the left side of the box.

In the 72nd minute, Rovers did double their lead after Reece James was found in acres of space down the left.

One of Baudry and-or Odimayo was ball watching as the ball turned over, and the Rovers midfielder was easily able to poke home his second of the night when one-on-one.

Town did not let the goal stifle their efforts though, as the search for a consolation continued right until the end.

Jaiyesimi was fouled in the dying embers, and he got up to slam the penalty down the middle as time expired immeditaely after.

DRFC starting line-up: Lumley, Halliday, James, Anderson, Whiteman, M Smith, Amos, John-Jules, Sims, Butler, Coppinger.

Subs: Jones, Okenabirhie, Lokilo, Taylor, Richards, John, Hasani.

STFC starting line-up: Kovar, Fryers, Conroy (C), Grounds, Baudry, Odimayo, M Smith, Payne, J Smith, Jaiyesimi, Hope.

Subs: Fryer, Caddis, Pitman, T Smith, Curran, Stevens, A Grant.