Coca Cola League One

Town striker Billy Paynter saw red for the second time in successive season as David Byrne's side slipped to another defeat.

The defeat means Swindon are sixth from bottom, just one point off the relegation zone.

Paynter was given his marching orders after reacting to a challenge by Crewe skipper Michael O'Connor.

The 10 men of Town battled bravely for the remaining half hour, but could find no way through the resolute Crewe rearguard.

The Railwaymen won the game courtesy of a poacher's effort from Shaun Miller on the stroke of half-time.

Miller was first to the rebound after Joel Grant's low drive was only parried by Phil Smith in the Town goal.

Paynter enjoyed Town's best two efforts in the first half, a header which was saved by Crewe goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson and a volley that hit the side netting.

Town were reduced to half chances after the break, with Paynter again forcing Tomlinson into a save before his early bath.

Simon Cox almost snatched an unlikely point for Town late on, but his glancing header sailed wide.

Here are the key moments from today's game:

3 mins: Town fail to clear a long throw and the ball breaks kindly for Joel Grant, whose left wing cross is just too strong for the advancing Shaun Miller.

6 mins: Anthony McNamee skips past John Brayford and delivers a wicked cross to the near post, which Billy Paynter guides into the side netting. The Town fans thought it was a goal.

10 mins: JP McGovern's inswinging corner from the left is met by Paynter, but Crewe goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson does well to catch the ball under pressure.

13 mins: James Bailey's strike from the edge of the box strikes his teammate Miller as Town escape a nervy few moments in their own penalty area.

16 mins: Paynter attemps to curl the ball into the top corner from 20 yards but Tomlinson was never troubled.

25 mins: George Abbey gets caught in possession in his own box and Paynter backheels the ball for strike partner Simon Cox, who brings a sharp save out of Tomlinson at his near post.

38 mins: JP McGovern shows fleet of foot to make half a yard of space in the Crewe box, but drags his left-footed strike wide of the upright.

47 mins: GOAL 1-0 (Miller). Crewe score against the run of play. After a prolonged spell of possession, Grant's low drive is only parried by Phil Smith and Miller pounces to put the hosts 1-0 up. HALF TIME 45 mins: SUB: Craig Easton replaces Lee Peacock in the Town midfield at the start of the second half.

52 mins: McGovern delivers a superb first time cross into the Crewe six-yard box but Paynter is slow to react and the ball skids wide for a goal kick.

53 mins: Michael O'Connor's free-kick lands on the roof of Smith's goal.

54 mins: Miller almost adds a second for Crewe, beating first Aljofree and then Jerel Ifil with his head before Phil Smith averts the danger with a brave block at the striker's feet.

55 mins: Seconds later Miller's left-wing cross is almost sliced into his own goal by Callum Kennedy as the hosts begin to apply the pressure.

64 mins: Michael Pook tries a speculative 65 mins: Simon Cox chases a lost cause a crosses for Paynter, who holds off the challenge of James Bailey and forces Tomlinson into a save at his near post. Easton heads wide from the resulting corner.

66 mins: RED CARD (Paynter). The Town striker is given his marching orders after retaliating to a challenge from Crewe skipper O'Connor.

71 mins: SUB: After Paynter's deparure, Byrne makes a double change, with Michael Timlin replacing McGovern and Blair Sturrock taking the place of McNamee.

77 mins: Clayton Donaldson is introduced by Dario Gradi, with Anthony Elding making way.

79 mins: Kennedy makes good ground on the left and crosses for Cox, who plants a tame header two yards wide.

81 mins: Miller skips inside Ifil and fires straight into the arms of Smith. 81 mins: YELLOW CARD (Ifil). The Town centre half brings down Miller in full flow.

89 mins: Jack Smith's floated free-kick is glanced just wide of the post by a frustrated Cox.

91 mins: Easton hits a low shot which Tomlinson does well to hang onto.

FULL TIME TEAMS: CREWE: Stuart Tomlinson, Danny O'Donnell, Eugen Bopp, Michael O'Connor, Anthony Elding, Joel Grant, George Abbey, Shaun Miller, James Bailey, John Brayford, Dennis Lawrence.

Subs: Steve Collins, Tom Pope, Colin Daniel, Luke Murphy, Clayton Donaldson.

TOWN: Phil Smith, Jack Smith, Hasney Aljofree, Jerel Ifil, Callum Kennedy, JP McGovern, Michael Pook, Lee Peacock, Anthony McNamee, Simon Cox, Billy Paynter.

Subs: Peter Brezovan, Craig Easton, Michael Timlin, Sean Morrison, Blair Sturrock.