Swindon 1-1 Dag & Red

By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at the County Ground

Jon Nurse struck a dramatic late equaliser to snatch a point for Dagenham & Redbridge and extend Swindon boss Paul Hart's wait for a first win.

Swindon took the lead through an excellent lob by Mike Grella late in the first half.

But Nurse deflected Peter Gain's volley beyond stranded Robins keeper Phil Smith after 83 minutes.

Swindon could have snatched victory in injury-time when Paul Caddis appeared to be brought down in the Daggers box.

Referee Garry Sutton did not award a penalty and the points were shared, ensuring the visitors remain narrowly above the relegation zone.

The draw is enough to lift Swindon off the bottom of the League One table and up to 22nd, three points adrift of safety.

But they have picked up only two points from three fixtures against relegation rivals since the appointment of Hart, following a draw against Wallsall and defeat at Plymouth.

The home team have not won at the County Ground since they defeated Sheffield Wednesday on 4 December, while their battle against the drop will not get any easier with forthcoming fixtures against promotion-chasing Huddersfield and Brighton.

Swindon have struggled to find the net recently, having drawn blanks in eight of their previous 13 games, but they crafted the first clear opening of a tense and edgy contest.

The impressive Grella's low through ball gifted David Prutton with a clean run at goal but the midfielder's low shot was well saved by veteran keeper Tony Roberts.

The Robins had been patient in possession, content to pass the ball along their backline and stretch their opponents, but it was a long ball upfield that led to their goal.

Abu Ogogo had ample opportunity to clear the danger but his failure to do so was punished when American Grella, on loan from Leeds, edged his opponent out of the way before superbly lifting the ball over the advancing Roberts.

The goal came after 44 minutes and brought with it a surge in confidence for the home team, who had two further efforts before the break but shots from Calvin Andrew on debut and Grella were blocked.

It was a different story immediately after the restart, with the Daggers creating a series of promising openings.

They were arguably unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after a crude lunge on Bas Savage, while the big striker and Nurse both forced Smith to tip the ball over his crossbar after they went close from tight angles.

Swindon did not threaten again until the hour mark, when Jonathan Douglas forced a good save with a long-range free-kick.

Roberts made a brilliant one-handed save to palm clear Grella's curling effort from the edge of the box and then denied Scott Cuthbert from the subsequent corner.

Hart's team could not find the second goal and were dealt a cruel blow when Nurse's deflected effort levelled for the visiting team.

Swindon continued to press and substitute Elliot Benyon was inches from converting a teasing cross from the left before they were denied what looked like a certain penalty in the fourth minute of injury time.

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