HOLDING midfielder Toumani Diagouraga believes Swindon Town’s efforts in the concluding minutes of Saturday’s League Two draw against Northampton Town merited more than just a solitary league point.

A lacklustre start to the second half gifted Northampton the game’s opening goal with an hour played when John-Joe O’Toole volleyed home from close range following a cross from the right.

The goal sparked Swindon into life though, as Phil Brown’s decision to bring Scott Twine and Keshi Anderson on in place of Marc Richards and Jermaine McGlashan changed the game’s momentum.

Breaking into the final third – and into Northampton’s penalty area – became easier for Town, who pressed hard for a winning goal after Matt Taylor’s equalising strike from a 25-yard free kick.

But Swindon’s late efforts went unrewarded as Brown’s troops settled for a point against the Cobblers – though Diagouraga believes the hosts deserved more.

He said: “I think we should have won the game, we had very good chances in the first half and we didn’t put them away.

“We should have got three points.

“I don’t think there is any anxiety in front of goal, strikers go through patches sometimes. They’re doing everything right but the goals just aren’t coming, though I’m sure it will change soon.

“We’ve got a very good team spirit, and we never give up – that’s why we manage to come back all the time.

“But now we need to change that and start scoring first.”

Diagouraga’s personal performance earned him a first man of the match vote of the season.

The Frenchman retained possession well and rarely picked a wrong pass, completing a true holding midfielder’s role.

His performances typified how he feels playing on the pitch at the moment – in control and comfortable.

“I’m enjoying being out there playing, I’m happy at the moment,” said Diagouraga.

“We all have a part to play, and I try and play as big a part as I can.

“Everytime I fancy Matt (Taylor) to score in those situations.

“Anytime there’s a free kick from 25 yards you have to fancy him.

“It was a great free kick, it’s a sham we couldn’t nick the win in the end.

“It’s bad luck, if we score in the first half it would’ve made it a different game.”