Full-time: Northampton Town 0 Bristol Rovers 0

Both sides will be wondering how they failed to emerge with three points after a game that saw some amazing escapes at both ends.

Northampton, who rattled the woodwork in the first minute, had by far the better of the opening period.

But Rovers fought back strongly in the second half as the Cobblers pulled off a series of goal-line clearances and rode their luck at the back before securing a point.

Rovers made two changes from the side beaten 2-1 at home by 10-man MK Dons on Boxing Day, Craig Hinton returning to central defence at the expense of Byron Anthony, while Ryan Green replaced suspended David Pipe at right-back.

But it was the home side who dominated the early stages and they were denied by the woodwork in the opening minute.

Big striker Adebayo Akinfenwa muscled his way onto a long ball forward but saw his strike from 18 yards hit the inside of the post and bounce away to safety.

Keeper Steve Phillips had to dive to his left to save Danny Jackman’s 25-yard free kick at the foot of his post, then Akinfenwa nodded home from the resulting corner but saw his effort ruled out for a push.

Ryan Gilligan shot wide as the Cobblers continued to enjoy the early pressure and it was 17 minutes before Rovers showed signs of a threat on goal, but Jeff Hughes’ downward header from Craig Disley’s cross lacked power.

Northampton had the ball in the net again after 23 minutes, though Scott McGleish was clearly offside and also saw his attempt ruled out.

Then, just before the half-hour, Jo Kuffour’s shot rebounded to Craig Disley near the bye-line. The midfielder had team-mates waiting in the middle but chose to shoot from a tight angle and could only find the side netting.

The Pirates put their best move of the opening period together six minutes before the break when the ball was eventually worked to Chris Lines, whose right-foot curler from 20-yards flew a foot over the bar.

It was Northampton’s turn to escape in the opening minutes of the second half when a good Rovers move down the left saw Aaron Lescott deliver a cross towards Disley.

It appeared that the ball struck a Northampton hand as Disley tried to get a shot away, but referee Simon Hooper waved off appeals for a spot kick.

Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn had to make smothering save to prevent Rickie Lambert’s cross reaching Disley as the visitors looked more of an attacking threat in the second period, but there was a scare for the Pirates too when Jackman’s angled shot struck Akinfenwa’s leg and skimmed over the top.

Leading scorer Lambert had not had much of a sniff in front of goal, but almost created something out of nothing after 65 minutes when he unleashed a thunderous 30-yard effort which was fingertipped over the top by Dunn.

Then Northampton had a series of let-offs from a Stuart Campbell free kick with Hinton seeing his attempt in a scramble kicked off the line before Campbell sent a shot flashing just wide of the upright.

Dunn just managed to scramble away a Lambert header before Lines volleyed narrowly wide of the post from 20 yards as Rovers enjoyed a spell of pressure.

Then Lambert and Hinton were denied by two more goal-line clearances following another Campbell corner as the visitors continued to turn the screw and the Cobblers continued to enjoy a series of miracle escapes.

But Northampton wasted a fine chance to go ahead with nine minutes left when Akinfenwa put a free header wide from Jackman’s free kick.

In stoppage time, Dunn clawed away another raking free kick from Campbell to secure a point.

Northampton Town: Dunn, Crowe, Jackman, Hughes, Todd, Coke, Akinfenwa, Davis (Holt 79), Gilligan, McGleish (Constantine 80), Walker. Subs: Dolman, Guttridge, Zieler.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, R Green, Hinton, Elliott, Lescott, Disley, Lines, Hughes, Kuffour, Lambert. Subs: Jacobson, Duffy, Anthony, Hunt, M Green.