LATICS’ unbeaten record away from home remains intact after they hung on for a point in a backs-to-the-wall performance from Frankie Bunn’s men.

All the drama unfolded at the death when the home side were reduced to 10 men after Matty Taylor’s professional foul on Christopher Missilou denied the midfielder a clear run at goal from the halfway line.

It’s impossible to say whether he would have scored, but with support either side, the odds were stacked in Athletic’s favour.

Chris O’Grady had an even better opportunity to snatch it with the last kick of the game but could only blaze over from close range.

The big team news before kick-off was that seven-goal top scorer Sam Surridge hadn’t travelled after being troubled with a sore hip yesterday. Ishmael Miller started in his place alongside O’Grady at a warm and sunny County Ground.

Swindon were first to settle, knocking the ball around with some authority early on as Athletic struggled to get into the game.

Elijah Adebayo dragged a shot wide after only two minutes, then Keshi Anderson flashed a dangerous-looking effort across the box moments later with the Robins looking bright.

A flurry of corners and half-chances followed for the hosts as Bunn’s men searched in vain for any kind of foothold.

It took fully 19 minutes for Athletic to carve out their first opportunity when Miller linked beautifully with O’Grady, used all his strength to hold off a defender – and though he had options left and right just outside the box, he elected to go it alone and his drive was blocked.

Still Phil Brown’s side dominated but the visitors could – bizarrely – have found themselves in front at the break when home goalkeeper Luke McCormick made a hash of claiming a cross as the ball dropped invitingly into the path of Johan Branger-Engone. However, the wideman snatched at the shot and it drifted harmlessly over the bar. However undeserved it would have been, there was no doubting the enormity of the chance.

Latics badly needed to step it up but with more of the same after the restart – Swindon asking all the questions as Athletic toiled – the only surprise was that it took 20 minutes for Jose Baxter to be introduced as Miller, who had earlier stung the fingertips of McCormick, made way.

Dummigan made his comeback from injury soon after in place of Branger-Engone as Bunn freshened things.

Still it was gritty stuff from the unbeaten away side who had found it difficult to create anything of note all afternoon.

Then with time running out and the hosts continuing to pile forward, Latics broke away. The ball fell to Missilou on halfway, last man Taylor blatantly tripped the midfielder and was quite rightly shown the red card as a mass brawl ensued with yellow cards doled out like confetti.

Then came O’Grady’s chance at the death after he was teed up by Baxter.

Athletic are a different side without Surridge alright – but this was a very useful point away from home.

LATICS (4-4-2): Iversen 7, Hunt 7, Edmundson 7, Clarke 8, A Taylor 7; Branger-Engone 6 (Dummigan 67, 6), Missilou 6, Gardner 6, Lang 6 (Nepomuceno 90); O’Grady 6, Miller 6 (Baxter 64, 6). Subs (not used): De La Paz, Benteke, Graham, Maouche.

SWINDON (4-3-3): McCormick, Woolfenden, Lancashire, Nelson, M Taylor; Diagouraga, Alzate, Dunne (McCourt 82); Anderson, Adebayo, Richards (McGlashan 60). Subs (not used): Vigouroux, Iandolo, Smith, Romanski, Conroy.

Attendance: 6,181 (412 away).