Andy Nicol's Glasgow are now bottom

The visitors started well, fly-half Tommy Hayes putting them in front with a second-minute penalty, and they continued to hold the initiative for most of the opening period.

Hayes failed with a second penalty chance, before eventually extending Glasgow's lead with a smartly taken 35 metre drop-goal.

Matt Dawson replied with a penalty for the home side, for whom Ben Cohen and Mark Tucker had gone close.

Cohen's best work was in defence, where he clung on to Jon Stuart and hauled him down after Glenn Metcalfe had broken over halfway.

Northampton lost Ali Hepher midway through the opening period, and the introduction of James Brooks at fly-half gave Saints a fresher look - although the Glasgow defence had taken on the look of a brick wall.

In the second half, Northampton started to turn the screw and Brooks was on hand to finish off after Dawson and Cohen had both failed to burrow their way over following a 30 metre forward drive.

Ben Cohen is halted just short of the line

As conditions worsened, Brooks took the wrong option when Metcalfe slipped on the greasy surface attempting to tidy up Dawson's clever chip-kick and he knocked on as he tried to pick up a ball which was barely five metres from the visitors' line with not a defending player in sight.

Dawson's failed penalty attempt increased the edginess among the home support.

But, with dominance established in the pack there was little to fear.

Cohen darted left after the Saints forwards had again gone close, and although Tucker juggled the winger's pass he eventually crashed over.

Dawson failed to convert but exchanged penalties with Hayes to maintain Northampton's advantage.

Glasgow had already accepted their fate by the time Luca Martin strode over in the corner after the visitors had again been dragged under their posts for defensive duty.

Pountney's injury-time score merely rubbed salt into Scottish wounds.

Northampton: Tucker, Moir, Jorgensen, Leslie, Cohen, Hepher, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Stewart, Phillips, Hunter, Blowers, Pountney, Seely.

Replacements: Brotherstone, Todd, Newman, Soden, Malone, Brooks, Martin.

Glasgow: Metcalfe, Steel, McLaren, Henderson, Bartlett, Hayes, Nicol, Hilton, G. Bulloch, Harrison, Ross, White, Reid, Flockhart, Petrie.

Replacements: Scott, Blades, McIlwham, A. Hall, Beveridge, Stuart, Irving.

Referee: M Salera (Italy)