SWINDON Town head coach Scott Lindsey admitted it was “just one of those nights” for his team after a strong start against Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy turned into a 3-0 defeat with two red cards for visiting players.

Town were well in the game before Ciaran Brennan was shown two yellow cards in a 20-minute spell and Ricky Aguiar was dismissed following a seemingly innocuous collision with Alfie Kilgour shortly before half-time.

Brilliantly-taken goals from Ryan Loft, Luke McCormick, and Harry Anderson stunned Swindon in the second half, and the club’s EFL Trophy campaign ended with a third defeat.

Reflecting post-match, Lindsey said: “It was just one of those nights, wasn’t it? We were in complete control, we were the better side, in my opinion.

“The first sending off was what, 30 minutes in? I felt we continued to be the better side and we passed it really well. But then of course we get another one sent off and it’s backs against the wall.

“I said at half-time: “try and block up, shuffle across, and try and hit them on the counter” but it was always going to be difficult. It was a long second half.”

MATCH REPORT: Swindon suffer heavy defeat in final EFL Trophy fixture.

Both Town dismissals were shrouded in controversy, but Lindsey was reluctant to disagree with referee David Rock’s assessment when asked what he made of the two red cards.

Lindsey said: “I think Ricky was difficult to see because the camera moved at the moment the contact occurred.

“Speaking to Ricky, he didn’t think there was much in it. I think it is a difficult one to see, so I don’t want to comment on that.

“The other one, I think they probably were two yellows if I’m honest with you.”

Despite going down to nine, Swindon’s outstanding players remained committed and energetic until the end.

The Town boss highlighted the performances of both Ellis Iandolo and Marcel Lavinier – two players who have experienced very little game time in recent months.

Discussing his team’s second-half performance, the Town boss was immensely proud of what his team produced.

He said: “You can give the remaining nine lots of credit, they were really good.

“There was a moment where Tyrese Shade should have scored when he went through, it was a great ball from Ellis Iandolo. I thought our two full-backs were excellent, by the way.

“There was lots to take from it, the players put a shift in, and it was very, very difficult once we went down to nine.

“But we’ve got to learn from it, the young lads who are trying to impress. Two or three naïve moments have cost us tonight.”