SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday February 24th, 3.00pm       
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

OXFORD UNITED 0

Attendance: 7,095 (1,444 away fans)

Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Brendan Moloney, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Bunney, Gboly Ariyibi (sub Hildeberto Pereira 72), Matt Crooks, Matt Grimes, Sam Hoskins (sub Shay Facey 88), John-Joe O’Toole, Chris Long
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Daniel Powell, Sam Foley, Shaun McWilliams

Oxford: Simon Eastwood, Ryan Ledson, Rob Dickie, James Henry (sub Gino Van Kessel 73), Todd Kane, Jon Obika (sub Wes Thomas 73), Ricardinho, Alex Mowatt, Ashley Smith-Brown, John Mousinho, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts (sub Malachi Napa 81)
Subs not used: Aaron Martin, Cameron Brannagan, Scott Shearer, Josh Ruffels

Referee: Martin Coy

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Oxford: none

10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: none   
Oxford: 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. 

Sam Hoskins replaced Daniel Powell in the only change to the Cobblers side for the visit of Oxford United. Shay Facey, back from a hamstring injury, was named on the bench with Hildeberto Pereira also amongst the substitutes after serving a one-match ban. Kevin van Veen (knee) was unavailable for selection.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Chris Long but the on-loan Burnley striker couldn’t keep his shot down after combining well with Matt Crooks. The Cobblers were playing some neat football on a cold afternoon at Sixfields and Long again went close after some neat build-up play involving Gboly Ariyibi and John-Joe O’Toole.

Crooks fizzed a shot just wide while Todd Kane went close for Oxford with a rasping effort from distance.

A last-ditch challenge from Joe Bunney denied Isaac Buckley-Ricketts on 52 minutes before Long again went close to breaking the deadlock, firing just over from an acute angle.

Ariyibi showed good pace but couldn’t keep his shot down and Simon Eastwood saved from Sam Hoskins as the Cobblers built up a spell of pressure on the visitors goal. Long then just failed to connect with a ball into the box from O’Toole following a quick counter-attack.

Ricardinho headed wide as Oxford enjoyed their own spell of pressure, substitute Wes Thomas also failing to find the target from close range.

Both sides pressed for a late winner but with the game becoming a little frantic and stretched in the closing stages it was to finish goalless. 

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (2) 3          
FOULS: (3) 11       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

OXFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)       
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 10
CORNERS: (4) 8
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0