SWINDON Town ended their EFL Trophy campaign with a crushing 3-0 defeat away at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.

A miserable night began in disappointing fashion for Scott Lindsey’s men as both Ciaran Brennan and Ricky Aguiar were sent off prior to the half-time interval.

Both dismissals had more than a touch of controversy attached to them, but Town’s attempt at finishing on a high seemed destined to fail from the get-go.

All of Rovers’ goals came after the hour mark, with Ryan Loft, Harry Anderson, and Luke McCormick netting for Joey Barton’s men to send the Gas through to the knockout stage.

Lindsey named a relatively strong changed XI with the likes of Louis Reed, Tyrese Shade, and Marcel Lavinier included in the starting line-up. Ex-Rovers defender Cian Harries was in from the start, as was Harry Parsons after being called back from his loan spell with Banbury United.

Rovers made 10 changes to the side which hammered Cheltenham Town on Saturday. Top scorer Aaron Collins was on the bench, and Alfie Kilgour - who was sent off in the league game at the Memorial Stadium last season - began in the heart of the Gas' defence.

Town began brightly on their travels and won a couple of early corners without reward. Reed then sliced narrowly over, but it was Rovers who created the best early chance.

In the 14th minute, Harries almost endured a nightmare against his old club. Luke McCormick slide tackled him on the left and sprinted away down the right before finding Jerry Lawrence with a cut back. The Rovers midfielder took a touch out of his feet but saw his effort well blocked by Brennan.

On a night where referee David Rock’s threshold for contact was apparently set extremely low, Brennan was booked in the 15th minute for what looked like a firm but committed tackle on the far side.

As the half-hour mark came into view, the best chance of the game fell Swindon's way. Roberts and Aguiar combined passes before the former received a through ball inside the box. With the goal at his mercy, a poor touch let him down and Anssi Jaakkola smothered the effort.

Moments later, Town were reduced to 10 men. Brennan fouled Josh Coburn on the edge of the box and received his second yellow card.

After Rovers produced a couple of half-chances, Swindon then had another man sent off. And once again, the circumstances around the dismissal were contentious. Aguiar stumbled into Kilgour deep inside the Rovers half, and the referee saw fit to produce a straight red card, much to the amazement of everyone inside the ground.

After just two Town yellow cards to start the second period, Bristol Rovers tested Sol Brynn with a powerful downward header by substitute Ryan Loft. The Swindon stopper was equal to the effort, however.

Moments after hitting the bar, Rovers finally went in front just after the hour mark. Sylvester Jasper slipped Loft through one-on-one, and the confident striker nonchalantly scooped the ball over the on-rushing Brynn and into the net.

After making the breakthrough, Barton’s men tried to put the handbrake down and set off into the distance. They managed a second goal with 15 minutes remaining – another outstanding effort too.

Harry Anderson was played the ball just inside the right edge of the box, and although there appeared nothing on, the Rovers midfielder produced a stunning effort to beat Brynn. Anderson simply turned and thundered a right-footed effort into the top right corner.

Inside the final 10 minutes, McCormick wrapped the game up. Another rapid counter-attack saw McCormick break away down the left and roll a firm low effort past Brynn and into the side netting.

Rovers smelt blood and fancied further goals, but the hosts could not find a way past Brynn again and Town escaped with just a three-goal deficit.

Lindsey’s men return to action on Saturday in League Two against Hartlepool United.

BRFC starting XI: Jaakkola, Hoole, Kilgour, Thomas, Clarke, Westbrooke, Lawrence, McCormick, Jasper, Coburn, Anderson.

BRFC substitutes: Belshaw, Gordon, Coutts, Evans, Finley, Loft, Collins.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Lavinier, Brennan, Harries, Iandolo, Reed, Darcy, Aguiar, Shade, Roberts, Parsons.

STFC substitutes: Brann, Massey, Adeloye, Minturn, Cowmeadow, Fox, Keyes.

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 1,700 (218)