Glasgow kept their Heineken Cup dream alive with a thrilling second-half comeback against Northampton at Firhill.

Glasgow had been rocked early in the second period by the loss of Gordon Simpson through injury.

Led by England scrum-half Matt Dawson, the Saints had got themselves into a 20-13 lead with a couple of penalties and a drop goal from Paul Grayson.

But Glasgow responded with two tries in four minutes.

Again Northampton went in front with a try by New Zealand international Andrew Blowers, converted by Grayson.

But a pair of penalties from McLaren saw Glasgow to a victory hailed by the 3,426 crowd.

After a close first half, Glasgow had squeezed themselves into a 13-11 lead.

The visitors had been quicker to settle with a couple of penalties by Grayson, which gave them a 6-0 lead after 14 minutes.

Tommy Hayes got Glasgow onto the scoresheet with a penalty after Reid had been obstructed.

But a prolonged spell of English attack ended with a try for winger Ben Cohen, who latched onto Grayson's cross-kick before touching down.

Glasgow immediately hit back with a cracking try, Kerr touching down after Glenn Metcalfe had breached the Saints' line.

Hayes converted and then put Glasgow into the lead in the 40th minute with his second penalty.

Glasgow: Metcalfe, Kerr, McLaren, Henderson, Bartlett, Hayes, Nicol, Hilton, G. Bulloch, McIlwham, Griffiths, White, Reid, Simpson, Petrie.
Replacements: Scott, Harrison, Ross, Flockhart, Beveridge, A. Bulloch, Irving.

Northampton: Beal, Moir, Jorgensen, Tucker, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Todd, Brotherstone, Stewart, Phillips, Brouzet, Rennick, Pountney, Blowers.
Replacements: Thompson, Budgen, Hunter, Seely, Malone, Leslie, Hepher.

Referee: Joel Dume (France).