COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Saturday February 2nd, 3pm
County Ground

SWINDON TOWN 1
Blair STURROCK 56

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Adebayo AKINFENWA 87

Attendance: 7,375 (Swindon did not confirm the number of Cobblers fans in attendance)

Swindon: Peter BREZOVAN, Jamie VINCENT, Lee PEACOCK, Jerel IFIL, Christian ROBERTS, Barry CORR (sub Blair STURROCK 15), Jon-Paul McGOVERN, Miguel COMMINGES, Hasney ALJOFREE, Anthony McNAMEE (sub Sofiene ZAABOUB 64), Moses ASHIKODI
Substitutes not used: Phil SMITH, Andy NICHOLAS, Michael POOK

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Mark LITTLE, Mark HUGHES, Brett JOHNSON, Danny JACKMAN, Andy HOLT (sub Adebayo AKINFENWA 64), Joe BURNELL, Jonathan HAYES, Poul HUBERTZ, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Ian HENDERSON 77)
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Alex DYER, Liam DOLMAN

Referee: Mr S Bratt

Booked:
Swindon: Jamie VINCENT (54), Sofiene ZAABOUB (90)
Cobblers: Mark LITTLE (76, 1st of the season) 

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:
Swindon: none
Cobblers: none

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.

On a cold February afternoon, Northampton Town travelled to meet Swindon Town at the County Ground. Giles Coke picked up an injury in training the day before the game so he missed out and was replaced by Andy Holt.

Swindon came into this match unbeaten in their last 10 games, and having beaten Nottingham Forest in their previous home fixture, but it was the Cobblers who came close to scoring in just the 2nd minute. Andy Holt's chip found Ryan Gilligan in space and although the Cobblers striker drilled in a powerful right footed effort, keeper Peter Brezovan made a good diving save.

The home side were forced into an early change with Blair Sturrock replacing the injured Barry Corr, but moments later a winding run from Moses Ashikodi caused problems for the Cobblers defence until Sturrock fired over the bar.

Jerel Ifil's 37th minute header from a left wing corner was too high, as a first half dominated by a strong wind and bobbly pitch drew to a close.

Jamie Vincent was booked after a 54th minute foul on Jonathan Hayes prevented a Cobblers break, but two minutes later the home side had the lead, the first goal the Cobblers had conceded in more than 360 minutes of football. A long throw from Miguel Commingues was touched home by Blair Sturrock.

Hayes shot into the side netting having been played in by Gilligan on 62 minutes, before Adebayo Akinfenwa came on for his Cobblers debut in place of Andy Holt. Swindon also made a change, swapping Sofiene Zaaboub for Anthony McNamee.

Mark Little made a great 70th minute block to deny Lee Peacock from close range, while at the other end Brett Johnson saw his header from a Jackman corner cleared off the line by Vincent.

Little was then booked after pulling down Zaaboub before Ian Henderson came on for Gilligan.

Akinfenwa turned neatly and after holding off four defenders his shot was deflected just wide but it did not matter, as from the resulting corner, taken by Danny Jackman, he rose highest through a crowd of players to plant his header home.

Zaaboub was booked in injury time for dissent, but the Cobblers had claimed a very useful point.

SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (6) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (8) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 7

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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