Saints lost their grip on the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after a 3-0 defeat to Swindon Town at St. Mary's.

A double strike from former Saint Vincent Pericard sandwiched a 63rd minute Charlie Austin goal to confirm the Robins' progress at the current holders' expense.

To compound matters, Saints' second half substitute Lee Barnard was sent off for a lunging challenge followed by a reaction which referee Darren Sheldrake saw worthy of a straight red card, as he dismissed the striker less than ten minutes after he entered the fray.

Saints: Davis, Butterfield (Barnard 74), Fonte, Jaidi, Harding, Puncheon (Chamberlain 63), Hammond, Schneiderlin, Guly (Dickson 74), Connolly, Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Wotton.

Swindon: Lucas, Cuthbert, Morrison, Amankwaah, Kennedy, Douglas (Evans 20), McGovern, Ferry, Timlin, Pericard, Austin (O'Brien 80). Subs (not used): Smith, Ball, Dossevi.

Referee: Mr. D. Sheldrake (Surrey)

Attendance: 8,333 (including 499 away)

Guly lind up for his full home debut in a Saints shirt, and he was joined by David Connolly in the starting line up. Adam Lallana was sidelined by the knee injury he picked up at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Swindon got things underway attacking the Chapel End on a mild evening inside St. Mary's, and in a congested opening to the game it was the visitors who went closest early on as Charlie Austin headed wide from Michael Timlin's cross in the 6th minute of play.

With Wilkins barking the orders from the touchline, Saints soon looked lively going forward as they confidently knocked the ball around in Swindon's half.

On 14 Jason Puncheon conjured up the hosts' first chance by cutting inside from the right hand side and flashing a low near post strike agonisingly wide of the upright.

The Saints number ten supplied Guly with an opportunity inside the area moments later, but the Brazilian's effort was deflected out of play by a Town defender.

The visitors were forced to make a substitution on 20 as captain Jonathan Douglas succumbed to an injury and was replaced by Will Evans in a defensive midfield position.

Kelvin Davis reacted quickly to deny Simon Ferry on 25 with a smart one handed save from a shot which appeared to take a deflection of Jose Fonte as Ferry let fly from the edge of the area.

Three minutes later, Swindon took the lead through a former Saint. Austin's fine run and cross from the right was powerfully volleyed home inside the six yard box by Vincent PERICARD which gave Davis no chance off stopping.

Hammond had to receive treatment on the half hour mark after a collision which required him to resume action with a heavily bandaged head.

Saints responded to go behind with a Rickie Lambert free-kick which was held by David Lucas in the Robins' goal, who then also managed to hold on to Danny Butterfield's cross from the right under pressure from the Liverpudlian striker.

Connolly had the ball in the back of Swindon's net shortly after, but the move leading up to the finish had long been flagged for an offside against Lambert.

Half hearted penalty appeals for a foul on Guly and a handball from Ferry inside the area were waived away by the referee inside the last five minutes of the half before Lambert headed over from Puncheon's cross as Saints continued to push for an equaliser.

Puncheon saw another goalbound drilled effort deflected out of play before he gave possession away in Swindon's half which led to a counter attack that Butterfield thwarted as Will Evans tried to force a shot at goal.

In the additional minute of stoppage time Guly displayed some trickery to create a last ditch chance for Harding at the end of the half, but the left back's effort was blocked by a crowd of bodies.

Half Time: Saints 0-1 Swindon

A bright start to the second 45 from the hosts saw Connolly get the first shot away after linking up with Guly and Harding on the left, then firing a low shot which Lucas held.

Morgan Schneiderlin's 48th minute corner from the left was headed back into the danger zone by Hammond, but Jaidi couldn't force his effort on target as the Tunisian went close to levelling the scores.

Saints began to control possession again, which was briefly interrupted when Austin was booked for a foul on Harding before a longer stoppage occurred whilst Timlin received treatment for a knock on halfway.

Despite the hosts remaining the more inventive of the two sides with Guly and Connolly in particular looking lively, Swindon doubled their lead on 63 minutes through striker AUSTIN. The young Robins forward who struck 20 goals last season, swept home Kevin Amankwaah's cross from the right with a side foot volley to make it 2-0.

Wilkins withdrew Puncheon moments later with Alex Chamberlain replacing him on the right of midfield for the last half hour or so, to try and rejuvenate the hosts.

A splendid save from Davis on 68 denied Callum Kennedy's low free-kick after Fonte was cautioned for bringing down Austin on the edge of the area.

Dickson and Barnard were introduced for the last quarter of an hour or so in place of Guly and Butterfield as Saints switched to a 3-4-3 formation, with Lambert, Barnard and Connolly leading a three-pronged attack to try and find a way back into the tie.

Alan O'Brien replaced Town's second goal scorer Charlie Austin for the last ten minutes.

Worse was to follow for Saints though when substitute Barnard was sent off in controversial circumstances. The striker appeared to be initially booked for a foul in the centre circle, but the match official's cards had stuck together, so the man in the middle quickly produce a red card instead as he had intended to do so in the first place.

Chamberlain hit a fierce effort over the top with time running out, but in stoppage time Swindon's win was confirmed by PERICARD's second of the game as he turned home O'Brien's scintillating run down the left hand side inside the six yard box.

Full Time: Saints 0-3 Swindon