PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Tuesday July 25th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Marc Richards 18

DERBY COUNTY 0

Attendance: 2,855 (813 away fans)

Cobblers: David Cornell, David Buchanan, Leon Barnett, Ash Taylor, Billy Waters, Marc Richards, Daniel Powell, Dean Bowditch, Aaron Pierre, Matt Crooks, Matt Taylor
Subs: James Goff, Yaser Kasim, Leon Lobjoit, Aaron Phillips, George Smith, Regan Poole

Derby: Jonathan Mitchell, Craig Bryson, Ikechi Anya, Chris Baird, Alex Pearce, Jacob Butterfield, Mason Bennett, Jamie Hanson, David Nugent, Marcus Olsson, Curtis Davies
Subs: Scott Carson, Craig Forsyth, Richard Keogh, Johnny Russell, Chris Martin, Bradley Johnson, Tom Huddlestone, Andreas Weimann

Referee: Mr Andy Woolmer

Booked:
Cobblers: none
Derby: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Derby: none

Football returned to Sixfields on Tuesday night as the Cobblers welcomed Championship side Derby County for their latest pre-season fixture.

A number of the Cobblers summer signings were named in Justin Edinburgh’s starting eleven, including the two most recent additions, Matt Crooks and Aaron Pierre. Ex-Cobblers Alex Pearce and Ikechi Anya lined up for Derby with Bradley Johnson named on the bench.

Dean Bowditch saw an early low effort saved by Jonathan Mitchell while Derby’s Mason Bennett had a shot turned behind by David Cornell.

Marc Richards put the Cobblers in front on 18 minutes, prodding in Billy Waters cross from close range. Daniel Powell also played a big part in the goal, winning the ball in midfield before playing in Waters.

The Cobblers went close to a second just before half-time, Leon Barnett heading narrowly wide from a Matt Taylor corner.

Regan Poole, Yaser Kasim and Leon Lobjoit all came on for the second half, replacing Aaron Pierre, Matt Crooks and Dean Bowditch.

Derby upped the tempo in search of an equaliser, Curtis Davies heading just wide and Cornell saving at the feet of Marcus Olsson. Rams substitute Tom Huddlestone saw an effort blocked before Richards was replaced for the closing stages by Aaron Phillips.

Clear cut chances were hard to come by and the Cobblers showed good composure to close the game out.

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

DERBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (5) 12 
FOULS: (5) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1