Leyton Orient fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to high-flying Swindon Town in League Two.

Goals from Keshi Anderson, Rob Hunt and Jerry Yates had the visitors well in the ascendency at the break, while Jordan Maguire-Drew’s second-half effort at least gave the home fans something to shout about.

Ross Embleton made a host of changes from the side that beat Southend United in the Leasing.com Trophy in the week, with many first-teamers recalled to the side. Youngster Shadrach Ogie, who received the Man of the Match award for his performance in the week, earned a place on the bench.

Swindon were at it from the off, piling pressure onto the Orient defence and they created the first opportunity of the game when the O’s failed to clear a corner, but Danny Rose’s powerful effort from the loose ball was well blocked by Marvin Ekpiteta.

Although Swindon remained well on top, the game quietened down in terms of chances for the next 20 or so minutes, but it sprung back into life with the first goal of the game.

Anderson’s free-kick was well blocked by the wall, but upon retrieving the ball on the left side of the box, his floated ball back into the mix crept into the bottom corner at the far post.

Orient created their first opportunity of the game in response, but James Brophy failed to get hold of his effort after breaking into a good position.

That was as good as it got for the O’s in the opening half though, as two quick strikes from the Robins effectively put the game to bed.

Hunt made it two when his cross took a horrible deflection off Joe Widdowson and caught Brill out at the front post.

It was then three as a swift counter-attack ended with Yates cutting onto his right foot and curling into the bottom corner.

The second half started much the same as the first had finished, with Swindon well on top, and they almost made it four straight away. However. Lloyd Isgrove was unlucky to see his long-distance drive smack off the top of the crossbar.

A problem of Orient’s so far this season has been their inability to take chances, and they were guilty of that again when, uncharacteristically, Swindon presented one to them.

A defensive clearance struck Angol which then broke into the path of Josh Wright, but his dinked cross after drawing out goalkeeper Luke McCormick was missed by substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew.

There have, though, been some character-filled performances so far this season, and Orient gave themselves a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes to go as the ball broke to Maguire-Drew in the box, and he fired into the top corner with his weaker foot.

They then came agonisingly close to a second when Louis Dennis let rip on the half-volley after a poor header away from Dion Conroy, but the strike whistled just wide, and Dennis then went close again but had his header excellently clawed out by McCormick.

There was little Orient could do in the final stages though as Swindon saw out the game with ease.

The O’s now prepare for next week’s long trip down to Exeter City.

Orient team: Brill; Ling, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Happe, Widdowson; Clay, Wright; Brophy; Wilkinson, Angol

Subs: Sargeant, Gorman, Maguire-Drew, Dennis, Harrold, Marsh, Ogie