On-loan midfielder Johnny Jackson scored his first goal in Swindon colours to help end the Robins run of seven successive defeats.
Jackson, who joined Swindon on three-month loan deal from Spurs a fortnight ago, marked his home debut with a spectacular goal as the struggling Robins picked up their first league point since the opening day of the season.
England Under-20 international Jackson brilliantly beat Northampton goalkeeper Lee Harper with a spectacularly struck 25-yard free-kick to put Swindon in front 14 minutes before half time.
Jackson bent the ball over the Northampton wall and past a helpless Harper who was later sent off, after striker Eric Sabin was hauled over on the edge of the Cobblers penalty area.
The goal was just reward for a hard-working Swindon side who had dominated much of the first half without really threatening the Northampton goal.
But the home side could have been ahead as early as the fourth minute when defender Jerry Gill's mis-hit clearance bounced off striker Sabin but went harmlessly wide.
Austrailian Danny Invincibile came within a whisker of making it 1-0 only four minutes later when he headed into the side-netting after racing on to Steve Robinson's right-wing cross.
Northampton's only attempt on goal of the first half came after 11 minutes when midfielder Chris Hargreaves planted a close-range header over the crossbar after striker Paul McGregor had crossed from the right.
Northampton manager Kevan Broadhurst threw on strikers Derek Asamoah and Jamie Forrester in a desperate bid to get his side back in the game.
But that move backfired 12 minutes from time when Swindon striker Sam Parkin scored his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot after Cobblers keeper Harper had been sent off after fouling the former Chelsea man