Kabongo Tshimanga scored a second-half penalty winner against his former side Chesterfield as Swindon returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 League Two home victory.
Tshimanga was fouled in a clumsy attempted clearance by visiting goalkeeper Ryan Boot in the 61st minute and stepped up to successfully convert the resulting penalty.
It was enough to win a scrappy encounter which saw Town boss Ian Holloway sent off after nine minutes following an angry exchange with the referee over a caution for Harry Smith.
There was a worrying 11-minute delay when Chesterfield defender Tyrone Williams required treatment – after a collision with his goalkeeper Boot – before he was carried off on a stretcher.
Smith then had a deflected effort smothered by Boot, while his far-post header went wide.
Just before the break, Dylan Duffy’s inswinging free-kick was well saved by Ripley.
Swindon improved in the second half and Miguel Freckleton went close with a header from Will Wright’s corner before Ollie Clarke’s effort was cleared off the line.
Smith should have notched from a corner but got his angles all wrong. Thankfully Tshimanga stuck away the spot-kick moments later to put them ahead.
And Smith looked odds on to double their lead when he was sent through on goal but dithered and the chance was snuffed out by a recovering defender.
