Saints succumbed to a battling 1-0 defeat against play-off chasing Swindon Town at St. Mary's.

Prolific front man Charlie Austin stole in for a goal ten minutes after half time by capitalising on a loose ball at the back before rounding Kelvin Davis to slot home from close range.

The solitary strike turned out to be enough for the Robins, who were reduced to ten men late on when midfielder Simon Ferry received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

The hosts threw everything at Town in the closing stages, with David Connolly and Lloyd James also making returns from injuries, but Saints couldn't find a way through as the gap to the play-offs increased.

Saints: Davis, Thomas, (James 70) Fonte, Jaidi, Harding, Puncheon, Hammond (Connolly 70), Schneiderlin, Lallana, Barnard (Papa Waigo 60), Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Seaborne, Wotton, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Swindon: Smith, Cuthbert (Jean-Francois 37), Sheehan, Greer, Darby, McGovern, Ward (Timlin 86), Ferry, Douglas, Marshall (Ritchie 82), Austin. Subs (not used): Easton, Thompson, Jesionkowski, Bodin.

Referee: Mr. K. Hill (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 20,752 (including 2,046 away)

Alan Pardew made one enforced change to his starting eleven with Wayne Thomas slotting in at right back in place of the injured Jon Otsemobor, whilst Lloyd James returned to the squad for the first time since the trip to Exeter last month and took his place amongst the substitutes.

Swindon got things underway in their changed strip of all blue defending the Northam End, housing a strong contingent of supporters from Wiltshire.

It was Saints who showed plenty of attacking endeavour in the opening exchanges, looking comfortable on the ball despite a couple of slips on the slick surface. A first time cross from Puncheon was turned towards goal by Lee Barnard which Robins 'keeper Phil Smith held well inside the opening two minutes of action.

The first clear sight of goal for the hosts came in the seventh minute from a long range free-kick which Rickie Lambert fired on to the roof of the net. The ball dropped down behind the goal looking like it had gone in, but had clearly already gone out of play much to the disappointment of some fans who were celebrating from the other end of the ground.

Alan Pardew's men maintained their early tempo in the game with some neat build up from midfield without looking too troubled at the back, but Saints nearly came unstuck on 20 minutes when Town midfielder Simon Ferry played in Charlie Austin one on one with Kelvin Davis. The prolific marksman however, dragged his shot wide of the right hand post.

The breakthrough almost arrived at the other end four minutes later though. Barnard's flick on was cleared out of the area only as far as Dean Hammond, who guided back towards goal, and saw his strike come back off the base of the post. The rebound fell kindly for Barnard to tap home, but the striker was in an offside position as he stroked the ball in from close range.

Play briefly came to a halt after half an hour as Swindon defender Scott Cuthbert received treatment for a knock but returned to the action looking like he was still struggling.

Cuthbert eventually succumbed in the next attack as he was replaced by Lecsinal Jean-Francois at the back on 37 minutes.

The competitive nature of the match remained as Saints continued to do most of the pressing and just a minute before the break the hosts came close once more as Wayne Thomas' header at the far post was pushed out by Smith straight into the path of Schneiderlin, who was desperately unlucky to see his shot blocked on the line at the other post.

Thomas was denied again this time with a diving header from Puncheon's whipped free-kick during three minutes of stoppage time with the home side more than a little unfortunate not to be in front at the end of the half.

Half Time: Saints 0-0 Swindon

As they did in the first half, Saints created an early chance with fans still making their way back into their seats from the interval. Schneiderlin's awareness to nod the ball into the path of Puncheon created a chance for the winger to stab an effort at goal, but his shot cleared Smith's crossbar.

A more patient approach almost backfired as the visitors went as close as they had come all game to a goal when Austin stayed onside at the far post, but saw his low shot kept out by a brilliant stop from Davis at his feet.

Alarmingly, Austin did manage to find a way through on 55 as the ball broke for him one on one with Davis. The striker still had a lot of work to do, but he kept his cool to round the Saints stopper and slot the ball home to give Swindon a surprise lead.

On the hour mark Papa Waigo replaced Barnard in attack before Davis had to turn away another attempt from Austin low to his left.

Lifted by their goal, Town then saw Danny Ward blazed a shot wide, prompting two changes further changes from Saints.

Connolly and James made their returns after respective injury lay offs to replace Dean Hammond and Wayne Thomas with just over twenty minutes on the clock.

Saints regained their composure going forward, and were denied by the frame of the goal when Lambert curled a rasping shot on to the crossbar from 20 yards out which evenually spun out of play.

Dan Harding picked up a booking for foul on Robins' forward Mark Marshall as the action became more frenzied with Saints now throwing themselves into attack at every opportunity.

And when Papa Waigo's shot from inside the six yard box was pushed out to Puncheon there looked like only one outcome on 80 minutes as he struck a first time shot, but Smith gathered at the second attempt to further frustrate the hosts.

Matt Ritchie replaced Marshall with eight minutes or so to go as time quickly started to slip away.

But every red and white shirt was now inside the Swindon half, as Saints piled forward and when Simon Ferry was dismissed for a second bookable offence, the pressure was heavily on the visitors, who switched Danny Ward for Michael
Timlin with four minutes to go.

Five additional minutes were added on, but the equaliser wouldn't come for Saints despite efforts from Papa Waigo, Puncheon and then a firm header from Lallana all testing the 'keeper.

Full Time: Saints 0-1 Swindon