Swindon crumble in the spotlight

Though there were 29 places between them before the match, League Two Barnet had the best of the argument in a rousing first-half — only to lose concentration just before the interval.

Up to then, Jason Puncheon was giving League One Swindon all the trouble as Barnet went close on a number of occasions, creating the first of two good opportunities for Cliff Akurang's in the 40th minute.

It was Puncheon who had delivered the knockout blow to Colchester last season when the Essex club were Championship high flyers and Swindon struggled to tame him.

He even had the cheek to try a 35-yard looping shot when he saw keeper Peter Brezovan off his line and the ball only just cleared the bar.

Barnet simply refused to let Swindon dictate the play and the game looked like going Barnet's way — until three minutes to half-time.

Then they gave far too much room to Swindon's most dangerous player, the left-sided Sofiane Zaaboub, who centred for the unmarked Billy Paynter to drive the ball low past the helpless Rob Beckwith for his seventh goal of the season.

Swindon were on a seven-game unbeaten run before this tie and showed their extra class at the right moment.

But Puncheon, the subject of a £150,000 bid from Leeds, who hit Swindon with the equaliser on 53 minutes.

The 21-year-old had again been unlucky with another dangerous crosses that striker Akurang should have converted.

But then he hit a fierce angled shot that Swindon's Paynter tried to keep out but could only divert into the net.

But as both side's pushed towards extra-time following Puncheon's equaliser, Barnet's Michael Leary was sent off on 73 minutes for a two-footed tackle on Zaaboub, who had to be taken off.