Left to lament his side's profligacy in front of goal, Cobblers manager Ian Sampson knows his side are now just two places off the foot of the Football League after their 1-0 defeat and that good displays are no longer enough.
"It was a decent performance with 10 players, but it's the result that counts."
The visitors continued to have their fair share of the game despite Dean Beckwith's dismissal, a fact acknowledged by home boss Mark Yates.
"It was a hard-fought win but that's what you have to do," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"I'm really pleased with the players' effort, especially in the second half.
"When you play against 10 men people expect you to steamroll teams but that's not going to happen."
Next week at Sixfields sees what has now become a six-pointer at the bottom of the table when Hereford are the visitors.