JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK SAYS PLAYERS CAN TAKE CONFIDENCE - BUT NOT TOO MUCH
Cobblers boss looking to build on recent run
9 November 2017
Cobblers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says his side can take confidence from the recent unbeaten run - but not too much - as he previewed Saturday’s game at Oxford United.
“Confidence is building which is good but to be over confident is a dangerous thing,” he said.
“The win at Gillingham will help the belief of the players but Saturday is a new match and we have to be ready for whatever comes at us.
“We need to keep positive and keep doing the good things that we have been doing as well as learning from the mistakes.
“We were all frustrated with the first 70 minutes on Tuesday night but in the end it was a positive result even though we weren’t happy with the performance. We made nine changes but the concept and the way we want to play has to stay the same regardless of the team we put out or the personnel selected.
“We want to keep on making steps forward and even with the changes I expected us to do much better.
“There were some plusses with the way we came back and to have three different goalscorers but as a manager you always want more.”
Oxford United 1 Northampton Town 2 - the match report
11 November 2017
SKY BET LEAGUE 1 Saturday November 11th, 3.00pm Kassam Stadium
OXFORD UNITED 1 Wes Thomas 44
NORTHAMPTON TOWN2 Ash Taylor 11 Chris Long 45
Attendance: 8,267 (1,125 Cobblers fans)
Oxford: Simon Eastwood, Dwight Tiendalli, Curtis Nelson (sub Aaron Martin 43), Rob Hall, Ryan Ledson, Wes Thomas, Jack Payne (sub Jon Obika 63), James Henry (sub Xemi Fernandez 82), Joe Rothwell, Ricardinho, John Mousinho Subs not used: Scott Shearer, Josh Ruffels, Alex Mowatt, Canice Carroll
Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Brendan Moloney, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Lewis McGugan, Matt Grimes, Billy Waters, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Sam Foley 57), Daniel Powell (sub Dean Bowditch 20), Chris Long (sub Marc Richards 90) Subs not used: David Cornell, Shaun McWilliams, Matt Crooks, Ryan McGivern
Referee: Mr Kevin Johnson
Booked: Oxford: none Cobblers: Matt Grimes (80, 5th of the season), Lewis McGugan (83, 1st), Sam Foley (90, 1st)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension 10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension 15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off: Oxford: none Cobblers: 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.
After back-to-back cup games in the Emirates FA Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy, the Cobblers returned to league action at Oxford United. Sam Hoskins, Alex Revell, Leon Barnett and Aaron Phillips were all unavailable for selection due to injury but John-Joe O’Toole (ankle) was passed fit. With the game falling on November 11th there was a perfectly observed minute’s silence to mark Armistice Day before the game got underway.
Home goalkeeper Simon Eastwood made a good early save to deny Chris Long, David Buchanan providing the cross for Long’s volley. A terrific interception from Brendan Moloney prevented a strike on goal from Oxford in an open start to the contest.
The Cobblers took the lead through Ash Taylor on 11 minutes, Taylor finishing at the far post after the U’s failed to clear a Lewis McGugan corner.
O’Toole headed just wide from a devilish McGugan free-kick before the Cobblers were forced into making a change after Daniel Powell picked up an injury, Dean Bowditch coming off the bench.
Eastwood made another terrific save to prevent McGugan doubling the Cobblers lead midway through the first half, McGugan’s powerful shot from distance seemingly destined for the top corner before Eastwood managed to get across and tip the ball behind.
Wes Thomas equalised for Oxford on 44 minutes but the Cobblers were soon back in front, Chris Long with a superb solo effort, the on-loan Burnley striker robbing the ball back from a U’s player before embarking on a mazy run that ended with a cool strike to beat Eastwood.
The Cobblers remained in the ascendancy at the start of the second half and when Chris Long put a cross into the box Billy Waters looked certain to make it 3-1, U’s defender Ricardinho getting a vital touch for the home side.
Sam Foley replaced O’Toole in the Cobblers second change while after a bit of a lull in the game Matt Ingram comfortably saved a Wes Thomas header in a rare chance for Oxford.
Ingram had to be at his best to palm over a shot from Rob Hall as the game entered the final five minutes, Dwight Tiendalli also going close for the U’s as they pressed for a second equalising goal of the afternoon. It wasn’t to come though as the Cobblers remained resolute to claim the three points their performance thoroughly deserved.
OXFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4 CORNERS: (2) 6 FOULS: (6) 8 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 7
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 11 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4 CORNERS: (4) 8 FOULS: (4) 10 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
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TICKET DETAILS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME AT OXFORD UNITED
Tickets now on sale from Sixfields and ntfcdirect.co.uk
8 November 2017
Oxford United v Northampton Town Sky Bet League 1 Saturday November 11th 2017 Kick off 3.00pm
We have been allocated an initial 1,198 tickets for this game priced and these are now on sale from Sixfields and ntfcdirect.co.uk priced as follows:
Adults £24 Over 65 £17 Students with valid NUS card or in full time education £16 Aged 18-21 £16 Under 18 £14 Under 13 £10 Under 7 £6
Wheelchair supporters pay the appropriate age category with a free personal assistant.
Ambulant disabled supporters also pay the relevant age price with a free personal assistant ticket as long as the disabled supporter is on medium to high rate disability allowance.
There is parking for 2,000 vehicles at the stadium on a first come, first served basis. You are advised not to park in residential areas or on double yellow lines.
Any tickets purchased online or over the phone and not collected from Sixfields will be taken to the game for collection on arrival. They can be collected from the North Stand ticket office adjacent to the visiting turnstiles.
Advanced sales end at 4pm on Friday.
Tickets can be purchased on arrival, cash only please.
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