Swindon Town's automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow as they crashed to a 3-0 League Two defeat at Colchester United, undone by a first-half red card and a clinical home display after the break.
The hosts were unfortunate not to lead in the 11th minute when Ellis Iandolo clattered a post with a 20-yard strike, before Jack Payne smacked the upright with the follow up. The breakthrough they deserved would arrive shortly after the interval.
Ball Sees Red as Tide Turns
The pivotal moment arrived in the 29th minute when James Ball was shown a straight red card for a foul on Fin Barbrook, leaving Swindon to navigate more than an hour with ten men.