COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Tuesday January 1st 2008, 3.00pm
Sixfields

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Attendance: 5,329 (486 away fans)

Cobblers:  Mark BUNN, Danny JACKMAN*, Daniel JONES, Liam DOLMAN, Mark HUGHES, Brett JOHNSON, Joe BURNELL, Jason CROWE (sub Colin LARKIN 90), Poul HUBERTZ (sub Andy HOLT 86), Andy KIRK, Dean BOWDITCH
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Alex DYER, Danny MAY

Millwall: Lenny PIDGELEY, Danny SENDA (sub Scott BARRON 77), Paul ROBINSON, Zak WHITBREAD, Neil HARRIS, Dave BRAMMER, Jay SIMPSON, Ali FUSEINI, Ahmet BRKOVIC (sub Gary ALEXANDER 46), Marcus BIGNOT, Bryan HODGE (sub Adebayo AKINFENWA 71)
Substitutes not used: Preston EDWARDS, Richard SHAW

Referee: Mr G Horwood

Booked:
Cobblers: Jason CROWE (76, 7th of the season)
Millwall: Marcus BIGNOT (40), Dave BRAMMER (64)

5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: Poul HUBERTZ (80) (3 match ban - misses Leeds away 05/01/08, Hartlepool home 12/01/08 and Gillingham away 19/01/08)
Millwall: Neil HARRIS (80)

Sending offs: 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.

* sponsors man of the match

Northampton Town welcomed Millwall to Sixfields on the first day of 2008. Stuart Gray made two changes to the side that won at Huddersfield with Dean Bowditch and Danny Jackman replacing Bradley Johnson and Ryan Gilligan. The latter joined the injured list, alongside Chris Doig, Giles Coke and Ian Henderson. Andy Holt returned to the squad to be named among the substitutes.

After a minute of applause in memory of Phil O'Donnell, Poul Hubertz had an early effort at goal, but Millwall keeper Lenny Pidgeley was in the right place to get behind the ball and make the save.

Dean Bowditch flashed a 14th minute effort wide after linking up with Danny Jackman, before another Hubertz effort on the turn forced a diving save from Pidgeley. As Andy Kirk retrieved the rebound, Jason Crowe headed just wide from his cross.

Danny Jackman's 33rd minute drive appeared to have beaten Pidgeley but was blocked, but four minutes later the Cobblers had the lead after a flowing move from one of the field to the other. Poul Hubertz started the move, defending a free kick and found Andy Kirk in space on the half way line. Kirk found Danny Jackman on the over lap and his deep cross was returned by Jason Crowe for Dean Bowditch to score from close range.

Marcus Bignot was booked after a trip on Daniel Jones in the final action of note in the first half.

Millwall made a change at half time with Gary Alexander replacing Ahmet Brkovic.

Andy Kirk's powerful 50th minute free kick was parried by Pidgeley, the rebound being cleared by the Lions defence. From the resulting corner, Jason Crowe headed just over.

It was the turn of Daniel Jones to go close from a free kick moments later, this time the Millwall keeper tipped his curling effort over the bar.

Mark Bunn made a save from a Neil Harris shot on the turn on 56 minutes, while Jay Simpson shot into the side netting for the visitors. In a good spell for Millwall, Bunn saved well from Alexander.

Poul Hubertz was narrowly wide at the far post from a Jones cross after 58 minutes, before Brammer was booked for a trip on the on loan Wolves man.

Jay Simpson led a Millwall break on 66 minutes but Bunn made a good low save, before the Cobblers keeper pulled off an even better stop to tip an Alexander header over the bar.

Kenny Jackett's second change saw Adebayo Akinfenwa come on for Bryan Hodge, before an enforced swap involved Scott Barron coming on for Danny Senda. Jason Crowe was booked for the foul as the Lions man left the field.

There was a double sending off on 81 minutes. For Millwall Neil Harris was red carded for charging at Poul Hubertz and raising his hands to complain about a challenge Hubertz made on a Lions team mate. Hubertz was also dismissed as tempers flared.

Andy Holt came on for Danny Jackman in the Cobblers first change, but as the game entered injury time Gary Alexander was in the right place to convert from close range at the far post to give the visitors an equaliser.

Jason Crowe was forced to leave the field in the final moments to be replaced by Colin Larkin, before an eventful game drew to a close.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 12
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (8) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4

MILLWALL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (6) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.

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