Ian Holloway could not watch as George Cox smashed in a last-gasp winner from the penalty spot against Colchester after Swindon’s recent horror show from 12 yards.
Town captain Ollie Clarke notched early before Town old boy Jack Payne stuck away two penalties ahead of Aaron Drinan’s late leveller.
But when Tom Flanagan handled eight minutes into added time home fans were nervous after the Robins notched just one in the last seven spot-kicks, including a calamitous cup shoot-out.
However, former Brighton full-back Cox made no mistake to move the Robins four points above the relegation zone.
Holloway said: “I couldn’t watch the penalty after what we’ve done. We were worse than England.
“I just let the crowd tell me that it went in, which is a wonderful feeling, and we deserved it.”
The win lifted Swindon up to 19th as Holloway looks to wield the axe as the transfer window opens.
He said: “They’re playing for their Swindon lives. This is what I’ve told them. And I believe they’re trying to do that.
“And the more I see things like that, the less I need to do in the window.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more. They’re looking like a team. They’ll fight for everything. They’ll keep going. And I love it.”
Town went ahead in the 15th minute when captain Clarke got a faint touch on Will Wright’s inswinging free-kick.
Clarke then hit a vicious dipping volley that Matt Macey did well to parry over before he went full length to deny Harry Smith’s curler.
Payne levelled when Joel Cotterill chopped down Harry Anderson a minute before the break.
His second penalty in the 61st minute put the U’s ahead after Daniel Barden’s needless trip on Anderson.
Drinan was sent through on goal and smashed against the bar, but he made no mistake when he nutmegged the keeper from a narrow angle eight minutes from time.
Robins defender Cox then hit the bar in the dying seconds and Nnamdi Ofoborh drilled inches wide before ex-Town defender Ellis Iandolo saw red for a double foul.
Cox then drilled in from the spot after Flanagan handled, ending Colchester’s nine-game unbeaten run.
Boss Danny Cowley said: “We’re disappointed. At 70 minutes we were 2-1 up and we’re looking a really good team, with good control of the game.
“We lost our discipline and our emotional control and started to make some poor decisions, and poor executions, which meant we lost the ball.”
Cowley said the handball decision was harsh.
He added: “Nobody appealed. I couldn’t believe he gave it. I don’t know what referees are seeing.
“We gave up a whole day as managers to go to MK Dons’ stadium and were told refs are gonna be much more lenient.”
