Mansfield Town hung on for three priceless points in their relegation fight as Swindon slumped to a third defeat in a week against a team in the bottom four.
Swindon, completely over-run in the first half, dominated the second period after being handed a lifeline in first-half injury time.
Danny Invincibile and Matt Hewlett saw fierce drives finger-tipped around the woodwork by busy keeper Keith Welch in a one-sided second half and when Welsh was beaten by the same players Tom Curtis and Craig Disley cleared off the line.
Steve Robinson and Stefani Miglioranzi were also guilty of squandering clear chances as the Robins failed to snatch the point their second-half fightback deserved.
Afterwards Swindon manager Andy King, returning to the club where he started his managerial career, said: "I've had to scream and shout for the first time for a long time today. Yet the second-half performance was worthy of winning the game." After just eight minutes Swindon keeper Bart Griemink superbly tipped over Liam Lawrence's fierce close-range volley as the Stags started on top.
But the keeper had no chance seven minutes later when Mansfield took a deserved lead. Wayne Corden's deep free-kick led to a goalmouth scramble and when Lawrence and Rhys Day had shots scrambled off the line Junior Mendes slid in his first goal for the club from two yards.
Six minutes before half time Mansfield doubled their lead. Striker Iyseden Christie was tugged down by Matt Heywood and Corden tucked in the spot kick for his 11th goal of the season.
But the Stags then handed the Robins a lifeline when poor marking deep into first-half injury time allowed Alan Reeves to poke in Andy Gurney's free-kick from close range.