Swindon 2 - 1 Rochdale: Robins soaring after victory over Rochdale

Two goals in 60 first-half seconds helped Swindon to a 2-1 home victory over Rochdale.

Fabien Robert and Ben Gladwin found the back of the net in the 33rd and 34th minutes, following the early dismissal of Dale's John O'Sullivan, to hand the hosts a fourth win in five Sky Bet League One matches.

Oliver Lancashire reduced arrears for Rochdale just before the hour mark but Swindon held on.

O'Sullivan saw red in the 12th minute, with referee David Webb deeming the midfielder's studs-up challenge on Yaser Kasim dangerous enough to warrant his dismissal.

Swindon failed to capitalise on their man advantage until just after the half-hour mark, when Robert opened the scoring by firing into the roof of the net after Brad Barry's low cross.

Within 60 seconds of the restart, the Robins had a second. Gladwin galloped forward from midfield and his 30-yard strike took a huge deflection which wrongfooted Dale goalkeeper Joel Castro Pereira.

The visitors found a route back into the game after the break, when Lancashire bundled a Michael Rose corner over the goal-line, but they were unable to sneak an equaliser.