A ruthless start from MK Dons saw Marvin Ekiteta and Aaron Collins give Swindon a mountain to climb after just 13 minutes.

Aaron Drinan pulled one back before the break, and Town tried to push on, but could not find the goal that they needed.

Having progressed beyond the first round in the last two seasons, it was a return to form for Town, who now only have one more chance to win a cup game this season.

Ian Holloway made just two changes from last weekend, as Joel McGregor got his first start of the season, and Anthony Munda returned from injury. Dan Butler shifted inside to play in the back three as Town persisted with the formation that has brought success of late.

It would not have taken Bletchley Park to figure out the pattern of this game. The League One side, fielding virtually the same team that hammered Doncaster Rovers a week ago, got the ball down and began looking to unpick Swindon.

Their enigma moment took just six minutes to arrive. An MK Dons free kick from the right was delivered into the middle and flicked to the far post, where Ekpiteta slid in to open the scoring.

Connor Ripley was needed to prevent the lead from doubling minutes later. Stephan Negru could not fully deal with a cross into the middle, presenting Elijah Campbell with an opening from the edge of the area. He curled a devious shot towards the top corner, and only the fingertips of Ripley denied him.

His efforts proved futile after 13 minutes. Campbell curled a pass from deep around James Ball and into the path of Collins. Ripley came out to close him down, but a man in his form was not fazed, and he caressed the ball into the corner.

Stadium MK is one of the bigger pitches around, but Swindon were being spread wider than the Grand Canyon, allowing the home side to play through them with ease.

Their lead should have been extended when Sam Nombe sent Butler off to Asda on the left touchline and darted inside. He found his strike partner Collins in space in the middle, only for him to pass a shot down Ripley’s throat.

Another attack after 27 minutes saw the Buckinghamshire club probe this way and that before Alex Gilbey saw space for a shot. He tried to place it into the corner from the edge of the box, but Ripley was able to get across and deny him.

It took 35 minutes for MK Dons’ only change to become relevant, as Craig MacGillivray was finally called into action. Ball stepped in and threaded a pass through for Matty Virtue. With a defender between him and Aaron Drinan, he played the ball in front of him. The Irishman slid in and stabbed the ball at goal, but the goalkeeper got down to save.

All half Swindon’s route to goal had seemed to be through Joel McGregor’s runs down the right. Three times he got in and created chances.

In first-half stoppage time, that finally paid off. His run into space saw a few passes exchanged to set Virtue into the box. He cut it back for Ball, and he bobbled the ball into the path of Drinan, who lashed it into the corner.

From seeming down and out, suddenly there was life in the second half.

With their supremacy suddenly challenged, MK Dons dropped deeper after the break. They were attempting to take away how Swindon had hurt them late in the first half, but allowed Town to push on in the process.

Whilst MacGillivray was not being worked too hard, they were controlling the ball, and won a succession of corners and had multiple long throws to attack with.

With 20 minutes to play MK Dons had the opportunity to put the game to bed. Countering from a Swindon long throw, Collins was racing away with Tom Nichols in pursuit, but Ben Wiles was alone in the middle. Collins tried to find him, only for the Swindon midfielder to stretch out and block the pass.

As time was running out to turn things around, Holloway brought on Ollie Palmer and Jaylan Pearman to be the spark they needed.

After Drinan had a shot blocked, and Pearman headed at goal, one chance did come. Pearman played the ball out to Jack Thomson, who found Drinan. He drilled a low shot, but the goalkeeper got down smartly.

But it was not enough. Having been so comprehensively outplayed for the first half hour, Swindon did well to fight back into the contest. Whilst the intent was there, a lack of true sights of goal continues to raise concerns about the attack.

MKDFC starting XI: MacGillivray, Goode, Crowley, Gilbey, Nombe, Collins, Silvera, Campbell, Ekpiteta, Wintle, Sanders.

MKDFC substitutes: Stacey, Jones, Barlaser, Paterson, Bramall, Fullah, Wiles, Matete, Nelson.

STFC starting XI: Ripley, Clark, Negru, Ball, Snowdon, Drinan, Virtue, Thomson, Butler, Munda, McGregor.

STFC substitutes: Ward, Nichols, Majekodunmi, Pearman, Palmer, Hackford, Griffiths-Brown, Millard.

Attendance: 3,601.