COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Tuesday April 28th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

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Aspers Casino

ASSOCIATE MATCH SPONSOR
Filtration Control Limited

MATCHBALL SPONSOR
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Attendance: 6,054 (1,387 away fans)

Cobblers: Chris DUNN, Jason CROWE, Danny JACKMAN, Mark HUGHES (sub Adam WATTS 81), Liam DOLMAN, Ryan GILLIGAN (sub Adebayo AKINFENWA 46), Luke GUTTRIDGE*, Abdul OSMAN, Andy HOLT, Ikechi ANYA, Aleksandar PRIJOVIC  (sub Leon CONSTANTINE 68)
Substitutes not used: Paul WALKER, Jared HODGKISS

* Aspers Casino man of the match

MK Dons: Willy GUERET, Jude STIRLING, Dean LEWINGTON, Miguel LLERA, Mark WRIGHT (sub Luke CHADWICK 65), Aaron WILBRAHAM, Carl REGAN, Sam BALDOCK (sub Shaun CUMMINGS 82), Jason PUNCHEON, Alan NAVARRO, Peter LEVEN
Substitutes not used: Nathan ABBEY, Luke HOWELL, Tore Andre FLO

Referee: Mr K Stroud

Booked:
Cobblers: Andy HOLT (84, 3rd of the season), Adam WATTS (90, 1st)
MK Dons: Jude STIRLING (55), Alan NAVARRO (61) 

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
MK Dons: 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.

Stuart Gray made three changes as Northampton Town welcomed Milton Keynes Dons to Sixfields for their final home match of the season. Groin injury victim Chris Doig missed out, while Adebayo Akinfenwa and Adam Watts were on the bench. In to the side came Liam Dolman, Ryan Gilligan and Aleksandar Prijovic.

The game began in a crackling atmosphere, with both sets of fans in full voice. The first chance fell to the Dons in the 14th minute. Jason Puncheon cut in from the right hand side and sent in a drive that Chris Dunn blocked, the rebound fell to Sam Baldock but he shot wide under pressure.

The Cobblers first opportunity came on 22 minutes, Andy Holt flicked on a long throw from Liam Dolman but the ball rolled frustratingly across the face of goal. Moments later Jason Crowe cleared away from Mark Wright as the Dons man sent in a right footed effort.

The visitors had the lead on 34 minutes. Puncheon supplied a low cross from the left that was turned in by Aaron Wilbraham. Ryan Gilligan drove wide seconds later as the Cobblers looked for an immediate response.

Mark Wright touched a left wing cross from Wilbraham over on 40 minutes, before Luke Guttridge shot over the bar from close range after Dolman's long throw had been flicked on. The Dons had penalty appeals waved away in the final action of the first half.

Stuart Gray made a change at half time with Adebayo Akinfenwa replacing Ryan Gilligan.

Chris Dunn made a superb stop to hold a shot from Sam Baldock on 47 minutes, the Dons striker finding space inside the area after Jason Crowe had lost his footing on the greasy surface.

Jude Stirling was booked after catching Anya, before Jason Crowe required lengthy treatment after being caught by Wilbraham's arm. Despite that, the Dons were awarded the free kick, and Miguel Llera found the net with a header from that delivery, but he was flagged offside.

Alan Navarro was booked for a crude foul on Osman, before the Dons made a substitution, Luke Chadwick replacing Mark Wright.

Stuart Gray then brought Leon Constantine on for Prijovic, before the Cobblers had penalty appeals turned down when Luke Guttridge's on target shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of a defender.

Dunn saved from Chadwick as the game continued in its frantic pace, before Adam Watts came on for Hughes. Shaun Cummings replaced Baldock for the Dons. Andy Holt was then booked for questioning the latest in a string of controversial decisions from the referee.

Holt headed a corner just wide, before the fourth officials' board showed 5 minutes of added time. Adam Watts was then booked for disputing another decision.

The Cobblers had an effort from Watts cleared off the line in a flurry of late corners. And Chris Dunn, who had ventured forward, headed wide from another flag kick. They could not find an equaliser, which means the battle for survival goes to the final day of the season.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 4
FOULS: (7) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3

MK DONS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (3) 3
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

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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