After Swindon had taken a first half lead through Sam Parkin, Ian Holloway rang the changes at half time.
And to the Rangers boss saw his resurgent Rangers side take a share of the points with a valiant second half display and a Martin Rowlands equaliser.
Dan Shittu and Gareth Ainsworth emerged from the change-rooms at half time as substitutes to provide Rangers the impetus on which to graft out a second half equaliser.
Eric Sabin had started against his old club on the right of midfield, but made way as a half time substitute, while Kevin McLeod was missing through injury.
Martin Rowlands was moved to the left of midfield, and Clarke Carlisle and Terrell Forbes continued at the centre of defence. Richard Edghill also made way at half
On a rain sodden County Ground pitch it was Rangers who created the first opportunity of the afternoon. The attack came from Gino Padula's well measured pass from left back, finding Tony Thorpe who played back to his strike partner Kevin
Gallen. Gallen, looked up to see Rhys Evans in the Robin's goal well off his line, but the Rangers hit-man was narrowly off target on this occasion.
Swindon had crafted their own opportunity with in the first four minutes of play. Sam Parkin was about to unleash a shot, before Clarke Carlisle timely tackle sprung the ball away. But Tommy Mooney was first to react and collected the loose ball for Swindon in the box. However, Chris Day was alert and made the ball-winning tackle, staving off Mooney's advantage - beating the ball away.
Still Swindon advanced and David Duke should have done better when released into space in the 12th minute. The ball was played over the top of the midfield and found Duke in a mountain of space down the left flank. Richard Edghill did his best to make up ground, and Day came off his line to narrow the angle - but Duke couldn't keep his shot down.
Padula found him self in the referee's book in the 20th minute. After his first tackle missed his attacker, he regained his feet, but unfortunately his tackle was from behind. However, Swindon's resulting free kick was not to yield, and Rangers saw off yet another short period of Robins pressure.
Rangers had their best opportunity of the game to date in the 25th minute, Gallen found Thorpe as he broke the off-side trap, but the little striker opted to bring the ball back onto his left foot, and Evans was able to make the save.
A minute later Sabin was in the book for a tackle on Matthew Hewlett, caught up while Rangers were trying to stem the flow of Swindon attacks.
In the 30th minute Mooney hit Chris Day's cross bar as he collected the ball at the far post for Swindon. Hewlett's follow up was just shy of the upright, with Day at full stretch to see away the danger.
Mooney went close again eight minutes later. This time Day was able to beat his shot away. The resulting corner saw Mooney's shot gaol-bound, but Padula's instinctive header saw the ball ricochet off the crossbar and clear of danger.
However, Swindon did get their reward. In the 39th minute Sam Parkin met a delightful ball from the flanks with his head, beating the approaching Day, who had come off his line.
Swindon were to have the last play of the half, with Day again under pressure. Duke found himself with space and time again on the left, but Day's save was first class to see the strike away.
Ian Holloway rang the changes as he reorganised Rangers for the second half. Edghill made way for Dan Shittu, who went to the centre of defence, while Sabin was replaced by Gareth Ainsworth on the right of midfield.
Rangers started with intent, with both Thorpe and Gallen providing movement up front. And it was Thorpe who almost opened the scoring for Rangers, forcing Evans to go to ground to make the save. Marcus Bean was first to react from the edge of the box, but his low strike was beaten away by the retreating defence.
With the half 15 minutes old, Rangers sustained the pressure. Evans fumbled a clearance only as far as Thorpe, who smashed his drive goalward hitting the post. The rebound fell to Ainsworth who had come in from the wing, but Evans' save kept Rangers at bay.
In the 60th minute Gallen broke down the line, turning in then out, to create space, finding Thorpe unmarked in the box. Thorpe's shot was sweet but well saved by the Robins shot-stopper.
Bircham was cautioned four minutes later for an over excited tackle on Mooney, but Rangers were sensing a way back into this game.
Gallen went close in the 78th minute, but Rowlands sent the travelling fans into hysteria with his 83rd minute equaliser. The pressure had been mounting, and as the ball fell loose in the box, it was Rowlands who fired Rangers back into contention.
Ian Holloway then made his final substitution of the game, bringing on Steve Palmer in the 85th minute to firm up the midfield, with Bean making way.
With the clock running down and Rangers having controlled the bulk of the second half play, Swindon brought on new signing Rory Fallon, in the hope of a home debut match-winning late goal. But the fairytale was not to be, and Rangers had worked hard to level the scores, after Swindon had run away with the first half of play.
Rangers: Day, Padula, Edghill (Shittu, 45), Carlisle, Forbes, Rowlands, Sabin (Ainsworth, 45), Bean (Palmer, 85), Bircham, Thorpe, Gallen
Subs: Pacquette, Culkin
Bookings: Padula, Sabin, Bircham
Sent off: -
Scorers: Rowlands (83)
Swindon: Evans, Hewlett, Gurney, Mooney (Fallon, 89), Parkin, Miglioranzi, Duke, Heywood, Robinson (Nicholas, 75), Ifil, Howard (Reeves, 87)
Subs: Griemink, Smith
Bookings: -
Sent off: -
Scorers: Parkin (39)
Referee: Barry Knight