Northampton Town v Bristol Rovers
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday March 1st, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
BRISTOL ROVERS 0
Attendance: 5,058 (730 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Leon McSweeney, Zander Diamond, Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Gregor Robertson, Chris Hackett, Ricky Ravenhill, Darren Carter, Brennan Dickenson (sub Ian Morris 86) Alan Connell, Emile Sinclair (sub John Marquis 65).
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Ben Tozer, Ivan Toney, Gary Deegan, Antonio German
Bristol Rovers: Steve Mildenhall, Michael Smith, Tom Parkes, David Clarkson (sub Alefe Santos 78), Lee Brown, Chris Beardsley (sub Steven Gillespie 56), Ollie Clarke, Mark McChrystal, Tom Lockyer, John-Joe O'Toole, Kaid Mohamed
Subs not used: Dan Woodards, Ellis Harrison, Mitch Harding, Connor Gough, Seanus Clucas
Referee: Mr M Russell
Booked:
Cobblers: Darren Carter (81, 8th of the season)
Bristol Rovers: Steve Mildenhall (51)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Bristol Rovers: none
Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
Alan Connell for John Marquis was the only change to the Cobblers side for the visit of Bristol Rovers.
Good persistence from Emile Sinclair saw the striker test Steve Mildenhall on 16 minutes after he latched on to a long kick from Matt Duke.
The Cobblers were slightly on top in terms of general play but with both sides struggling to forge any clear cut chances in front of goal the first half ended goalless.
Bristol Rovers were somewhat fortunate at the start of the second half when Michael Smith’s defensive clearance came back off the post. A controversial moment followed soon after with Mildenhall barging Zander Diamond but the Rovers keeper escaped with a yellow card.
Duke made a terrific reaction save to keep out a low shot from David Clarkson on 62 minutes just before Marquis replaced Sinclair.
Connell couldn’t quite capitalise after Mildenhall fumbled a shot from Marquis with the game still very much in the balance.
Darren Carter made a good block to deny Rovers top goalscorer John-Joe O'Toole while at the other end Marquis couldn’t finish from an acute angle after a shot from Brennan Dickenson struck the post via a deflection off Rovers centre-back Mark McChrystal.
Ian Morris came on for the final few minutes, Dickenson the player to make way.
Marquis drew a save from Mildenhall in stoppage time but there was to be no late winner for either side as the game ended in stalemate.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (5) 7
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.