Harry Smith's stoppage-time header earned ten-man Swindon Town a massive 1-1 draw at home against Gillingham.

Grant Hall was dismissed for an ugly challenge during the first half as Tim Dieng struck for Gillingham with the visitors in total control.

Following the madness that followed the red card, Swindon did manage to reorganise and at the death, Smith headed in a big equaliser.

The draw puts Swindon level on points with next weekend's FA Cup opponents Colchester United, although they remain 22nd.

Gavin Gunning made four changes as he took interim charge of the side, most notably making a switch in goal as Jack Bycroft came back in for Dan Barden. Hall, Ollie Clarke, and Aaron Drinan all returned to the starting line-up as they returned to fitness.

A lively away following somewhat made up for the fact that the news of the last 48 hours had not brought the crowds flooding back. Ian Holloway spoke to the fans for the first time on the pitch to try and drum up some excitement.

Whatever the combination of factors, it translated into a quicker start and Swindon running at their out-of-form visitors from the off and causing havoc. Will Wright’s long throws and corners were taking a while to clear, and Danny Butterworth and George Cox were giving Remeao Hutton plenty to think about on his return.

It was not all one-way traffic, the game had a frantic feel in both directions. Oliver Hawkins had an early run in behind before Hutton’s quick throw set Dieng away to flash an effort into the side-netting.

However, the optimism was not to last long as just nine minutes into the game and with the ball in midfield, Hall came crashing through Dieng and having initially been shown a yellow card, was subsequently dismissed after the referee had a chance to think about it.

A minute later The Gills should have had the lead as a strike from Euan Williams hit against the connection but bounced away from Jacob Wakeling. The striker was able to work the ball into Hawkins but with the goal gaping he struck wide.

The goal didn’t take much longer to arrive, however, Wakeling was able to escape down the right and with Bycroft coming out, he sweated the ball to Dieng, who easily sent it into the empty net.

With Swindon reeling and having sent two different members of staff up into the stand to speak to him, Holloway ended up just coming down and standing by the bench to relay his message.

Eventually, Swindon brought Freckleton on during the first half to reshuffle to a back four, but Gillingham got their wing-backs to stand on either touchline whenever they got the ball to stretch Town as much as they could. The end result was that there was really space everywhere for the visitors.

The game had become simple for Gillingham. They sprung attacks at will in behind Swindon and it had the feeling that the only thing preventing them from adding to the scoreline was desire.

But out of the blue, there was a warning shot in the 41st minute. Town suddenly found their tempo as Clarke whipped a pass out to Cox, who wasted no time sending a cross onto Harry Smith’s head. The striker turned his body and glanced the header just wide of the near post.

Back on alert, Gillingham quickly came back up the other end and Ethan Coleman curled a wonderful pass from the left onto the head of Dieng. Eight yards out he headed into the ground but Bycroft got down fantastically to beat the ball away.

The Gills had another big chance to double their lead straight after the break as Wakeling got in again. With Bycroft at his mercy and two teammates square, Wright got back in and took the ball clean as Fairy Liquid with a wonderful sliding tackle.

Despite their man advantage, Swindon were still having plenty of the ball and with Drinan as an unorthodox right-wing-back had some energy to try and get something out of the game.

They were hardly cutting straight through Gillingham but there was the odd chance. In the 61st minute, Wright made a great run around the outside and sent in a cross. The goalkeeper and several defenders went to clear it and got in each other’s way. The ball flew up and went agonisingly over the head of Drinan for what would have been a tap-in.

Holloway was covering as much ground as anyone pacing up and down the bottom of The Arkell’s Stand giving instructions.

At the death, Sobowale found space on the right and chipped a cross up for Smith to crash a header into the back of the net for his third goal in as many games.

STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Sobowale, Wright, Clarke, Smith, Kilkenny, Butterworth, Drinan, Hall, Cox, McGregor.

STFC substitutes: Barden, Ofoborh, Cotterill, Longelo, Freckleton, Tshimanga, Minturn.

GFC starting XI: Turner, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Coleman, Dieng, E. Williams, Clarke, Hawkins, Wakeling.

GFC substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Nolan, Little, J. Williams, Andrews, Wylie, Gbode.

Attendance: 7,325 (1,105 away).