An injury-time spat between rival bosses Andy King and Martin Wilkinson provided the major talking point of this Division Two battle which saw an end to Swindon's recent impressive run.
King's Robins suffered only their second defeat in 11 matches and the first on their travels since the turn of the year while the Cobblers ended an appalling home run which had seen them lose six of their previous seven matches at Sixfields.
Wilkinson had only been placed in charge of Northampton in the last week and he was understandably anxious that his side hold on to Paul Harsley's 61st minute winner from the edge of the box, only seconds after the same player had forced Bart Griemink into a brilliant fingertip stop.
The managers were involved in a bit of 'argy-bargy' but it is King and Northampton assistant Jim Blyth who have been reported to the FA as a result of the bust up.
Wilkinson said later: "I regret what happened but it shows that I care very deeply about what happens here. I feel very privileged to be here doing this job after the commitment of the players and the support we had from the crowd today." Looking ahead to Northampton's last ten games which will decide whether they escape the drop he said: "It is all about confidence. If we show the same passion and commitment against Cheltenham and Notts County in the next ten days we will be halfway there." King said: "I didn't think we showed enough commitment today but if we finish in tenth place it will have been a fantastic season." Swindon had enough chances to at least grab a point. In the first half, Matt Hewlett was over elaborate when clear on goal, enabling Lee Harper to twice deny him.
And Sam Parkin, anxious to make a mark on the ground where he played last season, almost conjured up a late equaliser when he charged down Harper's attempted clearance only to see the ball ricochet across the face of an empty goal.