PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Tuesday July 29th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

Attendance: 2,117 (627 away fans)

Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE (sub Andy HOLT 51), Liam DAVIS, Mark HUGHES, Gabor GYEPES, Chris DOIG, Ryan GILLIGAN, Abdul OSMAN, Luke GUTTRIDGE (sub Ian HENDERSON 76), Leon CONSTANTINE, Colin LARKIN 
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Alex DYER, Greg TAYLOR, Giles COKE, Ritchie JONES, Liam DOLMAN

WBA: Scott CARSON (sub Dean KIELY 46), Jared HODGKISS (sub Leon BARNETT 46), Marek CECH, Do-heon KIM (sub Sherjil MacDONALD 60), Padro PELE, Carl HOEFKENS, David WORRALL, Graham DORRANS (sub Latiff ELFORD-ALLIYU 76), Roman BEDNAR (sub Craig BEATTIE 60), Luke MOORE (sub Bartosz SLUSARSKI 60), Chris BRUNT (sub Miguel TININHO 46)
Substitute not used: Luke DANIELS

Referee: Mr P Walton

Booked:
Cobblers: none
WBA: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
WBA: none

Northampton Town concluded their pre-season programme with a visit from Premier League new boys West Bromwich Albion.

On a pleasant July evening, the game began with both sides passing the ball around well. The first chance of the game fell to Ryan Gilligan, who drove a powerful 16th minute shot narrowly over the bar from just outside the area.

Four minutes later, from a Luke Guttridge corner, Mark Hughes rose highest in a crowded area but headed wide at the far post.

Albion's first serious effort came on 26 minutes, David Worrall cutting in from the right hand side and sending in a shot over Mark Bunn's cross bar.

Jason Crowe provided a teasing 32nd minute cross that Leon Constantine headed beyond Scott Carson's far post, but four minutes later Albion had the lead. Do-heon Kim showing Premier League quality, scoring via the inside of Mark Bunn's post with a sweetly struck 25 yard free kick.

Colin Larkin curled an effort just wide after meeting a Liam Davis cross on 43 minutes, the final action of an even first half.

Albion made a number of changes at the break with Dean Kiely, Miguel Tininho and Leon Barnett replacing Scott Carson, Jared Hodgkiss and Chris Brunt.

Liam Davis chipped over the bar from 15 yards at the end of a patient build up two minutes after the re-start, while Andy Holt came on for Jason Crowe in the Cobblers first change. On 52 minutes the Cobblers were close to an equaliser, Leon Constantine played in Andy Holt who delivered a deep cross for Colin Larkin. The striker headed the ball towards goal but it was saved on the line by Kiely.

Constantine sent in a drive that was deflected against the stanchion behind the goal after Liam Davis had broken down the right on 56 minutes. Davis curled in the resulting corner and had Kiely diving back across goal to tip the ball away.

Tony Mowbray made a triple change for the Baggies on the hour, Craig Beattie, Bartosz Slusarski and Sherjil MacDonald replacing Roman Bednar, Luke Moore and Do-heon Kim.

Sherjil MacDonald broke from midfield with a rasping run on 68 minutes, but he sent a low drive wide of the post, before both sides made changes. Ian Henderson for Guttridge and Latiff Elford-Alliyu for Graham Dorrans.

Both sides continued to create chances, but it was that single first half goal that gave the Championship Champions their victory.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 6
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2

WBA MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (2) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3