Paul Benson scored a late winner for Swindon against 10-man Macclesfield in a match that also saw Robins manager Paolo Di Canio sent to the stands.

Luke Rooney, who was making his debut, crossed for Benson to head home for his first league goal for Swindon.

Di Canio watched that goal from the stands after protesting when his side were not awarded a free-kick.

Macclesfield's Nat Brown was sent off for shoving Aden Flint but Matt Hamshaw wasted a chance late on to equalise.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Swindon manager Paolo di Canio told BBC Wiltshire:

"This is the game you have to win if you want to go up. In the second half we were on top of the game, with better desire. We deserved to win.

Di Canio on being sent to the stands:

"People have to understand my character. I speak with my body language, I didn't abuse anybody.

"If they want to send me off every game, no problem. I will win this league anyway because my team is a strong team."

Macclesfield manager Gary Simpson told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We've had our backs against the wall in terrible conditions and we did well trying to play.

"We've just not worked the keeper enough today and to be honest they're a good team and made us pay.

"Nat Brown says he hasn't done anything, then we were told he stamped on him. We haven't seen it yet so we won't pass comment until we've seen the DVD."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Swindon Town

  • 35 Foderingham
  • 04 Flint
  • 05 Devera
  • 07 Caddis Booked
  • 27 Cibocchi
  • 08 Ferry (Smith - 90' )
  • 10 Ritchie
  • 13 Risser
  • 09 Benson Booked
  • 17 Connell (Murray - 61' )
  • 23 De Vita (Rooney - 52' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Kennedy
  • 31 Bodin
  • 19 Rooney
  • 24 Smith
  • 34 Murray

Macclesfield Town

  • 01 Veiga
  • 03 Tremarco
  • 05 Brown Dismissed
  • 14 Diagne
  • 16 Brisley
  • 24 Hewitt
  • 11 Daniel (Bakare - 66' )
  • 12 Mendy (Thomas - 84' )
  • 20 Hamshaw
  • 09 Donnelly
  • 18 Fairhurst (Mills - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Bateson
  • 06 Morgan
  • 25 Thomas
  • 29 Mills
  • 34 Bakare
Ref: Stroud
Att: 7,639

Match Stats

Shots

10 2

On target

4 0

Corners

11 1

Fouls

9 7

Live Text Commentary

72:48 Substitution

Substitution Ben Mills replaces Waide Fairhurst.

90:00 +5:33 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:39

The assistant referee flags for offside against Matt Ritchie. Direct free kick taken by Carl Tremarco.

90:00 +4:01

Handball decision goes against Michael Bakare. Free kick taken by Matt Ritchie.

90:00 +3:17

Shot from deep inside the area by Luke Rooney goes over the bar.

90:00 +1:51 Substitution

Substitution Simon Ferry leaves the field to be replaced by Jonathan Smith.

88:48

Unfair challenge on George Donnelly by Oliver Risser results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Matthew Hamshaw.

86:35

Matt Ritchie restarts play with the free kick.

86:35 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Nathaniel Brown a red card.

86:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathaniel Brown on Aden Flint.

85:23

Ronan Murray produces a drilled left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright. Inswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney from the left by-line.

83:47

Jose Veiga takes the indirect free kick.

83:47 Substitution

Substitution Arnaud Mendy leaves the field to be replaced by Michael Thomas.

83:47

Unfair challenge on Michael Bakare by Matt Ritchie results in a free kick.

76:55 Booking

Booking Paul Benson receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

75:57

Assist on the goal came from Luke Rooney.

75:57 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Benson - Swindon 1 - 0 Macclesfld Paul Benson finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Swindon 1-0 Macclesfield.

62:52

Waide Fairhurst gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Caddis. Aden Flint takes the direct free kick.

72:48 Substitution

Substitution Ben Mills joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kristian Dennis.

70:44

Corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line. Aden Flint takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga. Free kick awarded for a foul by Elliott Hewitt on Luke Rooney. Ronan Murray restarts play with the free kick.

69:20

Luke Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Jose Veiga. Simon Ferry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Brown. Jose Veiga takes the free kick.

65:23 Substitution

Substitution Michael Bakare comes on in place of Colin Daniel.

64:17

Corner from left by-line taken by Luke Rooney.

62:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kristian Dennis on Paul Caddis. Aden Flint restarts play with the free kick.

62:52 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Paul Caddis for dissent.

61:52

Matthew Hamshaw produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

60:09 Substitution

Substitution Alan Connell goes off and Ronan Murray comes on.

58:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Benson on Shaun Brisley. Jose Veiga takes the free kick.

57:48

Shot on goal by Luke Rooney from just inside the area goes over the target.

55:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Connell by Shaun Brisley. Direct free kick taken by Alessandro Cibocchi.

51:10 Substitution

Substitution Luke Rooney replaces Raffaele De Vita.

50:28

Alan Connell is ruled offside. Jose Veiga restarts play with the free kick.

47:29

Corner taken right-footed by Matthew Hamshaw.

45:41

Corner from right by-line taken by Matt Ritchie.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +1:15 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:24

Paul Benson concedes a free kick for a foul on Arnaud Mendy. Jose Veiga takes the free kick.

44:19

Matt Ritchie takes a shot. Save by Jose Veiga.

43:21

Inswinging corner taken by Raffaele De Vita from the left by-line.

42:47

Corner taken left-footed by Matt Ritchie, Shaun Brisley makes a clearance.

39:52

Raffaele De Vita takes the inswinging corner, Nathaniel Brown makes a clearance.

39:04

Matt Ritchie has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

38:03

Matt Ritchie takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

37:40

Foul by Arnaud Mendy on Oliver Risser, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Simon Ferry.

36:13

Unfair challenge on Aden Flint by Nathaniel Brown results in a free kick. Wesley Foderingham takes the free kick.

34:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Arnaud Mendy by Oliver Risser. Jose Veiga restarts play with the free kick.

33:14

Corner taken by Raffaele De Vita.

32:52

Matt Ritchie takes a inswinging corner.

28:12

The offside flag is raised against Paul Benson. Elliott Hewitt takes the direct free kick.

27:01

Raffaele De Vita takes the inswinging corner, Nathaniel Brown manages to make a clearance.

18:15

Unfair challenge on Paul Caddis by Colin Daniel results in a free kick. Aden Flint takes the free kick. Raffaele De Vita concedes a free kick for a foul on Elliott Hewitt. Free kick taken by Elliott Hewitt.

15:57

Inswinging corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line played to the near post, Shaun Brisley makes a clearance.

12:54

Unfair challenge on George Donnelly by Oliver Risser results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Carl Tremarco.

10:02

Effort on goal by Alan Connell from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

7:06

George Donnelly takes a shot.

6:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Brown by Simon Ferry. Nathaniel Brown takes the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association