SKY BET LEAGUE 2       
Tuesday October 2nd, 7.45pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

BURY 0

Attendance: 4,073 (170 away supporters)

Cobblers: David Cornell, Shay Facey, Leon Barnett, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Sam Hoskins, Matt Crooks, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Dean Bowditch 71), Sam Foley, Daniel Powell (sub Billy Waters 63), Andy Williams (sub Kevin van Veen 85)
Subs not used: Lewis Ward, David Buchanan, Jordan Turnbull, Jack Bridge 
 
Bury: Joe Murphy, Chris Stokes, Will Aimson, Adam Thompson, Nicky Adams, Danny Mayor, Byron Moore, Callum McFadzean, Jay O’Shea, Neil Danns, Nicky Maynard (sub Dom Telford 75)
Subs not used: Tom Miller, Stephen Dawson, Chris Dagnall, Callum Styles, Matthew Hudson, Jamie Barjonas  

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Booked:
Cobblers: Shay Facey (72, 1st of the season), Dean Bowditch (75, 2nd)  
Bury: none

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:
Cobblers: none      
Bury: 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.

It was straight down to business for new Cobblers boss Keith Curle who took charge of the team for the first time as in-form Bury provided the opposition under the floodlights at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Curle, who replaced Dean Austin following the 4-0 weekend defeat at Mansfield, had precious little time to work with the players before kick-off but Matt Crooks (knee) was available for selection. Curle opted for a change of formation, playing three centre-backs with Shay Facey and the fit-again Daniel Powell acting as wing-backs. Sam Hoskins partnered Andy Williams in attack. A previous title winner with the Cobblers under Chris Wilder in 2015/16, Nicky Adams was a familiar name in the Bury line-up.

There was an early scare for the Cobblers when Adam Thompson headed against the bar from an Adams free-kick, David Cornell saving from Jay O’Shea on the follow-up. Bury were posing a real threat and Adams volleyed over from a Callum McFadzean cross while Thompson flashed a shot just wide.

Shakers goalkeeper Joe Murphy had to be alert to prevent Chris Stokes heading into his own net under pressure from Andy Williams before the Cobblers had penalty appeals for handball against Will Aimson turned down by referee Christopher Sarginson. The Cobblers were growing into the contest nicely and Williams went close with a shot lifted over Murphy from a wide angle that kissed the outside of the post.

Byron Moore’s goal-bound effort deflected off Leon Barnett and out for a corner, possibly via the post as Bury looked to wrestle back the initiative. There were chances at either end in an entertaining first half and Hoskins was denied by a point-blank save from Murphy with John-Joe O’Toole’s shot from the subsequent corner cleared off the line by Aimson. Murphy made another good save just before half-time, Hoskins again denied.

Crooks shot wide at the start of the second half after Powell showed good strength to feed the ball forward to the midfielder. At the other end Danny Mayor flashed an effort across goal which Cornell looked to have covered. The Cobblers keeper then did well to turn behind a free-kick from O’Shea that was curling towards the top corner.

Billy Waters replaced Powell in Curle’s first change, the game still very much in the balance with under half an hour to play. Dean Bowditch came on for O’Toole just after Moore had gone close from another Adams free-kick. You sensed neither side was settling for a point and Mayor saw a shot deflected behind after breaking clear of the Cobblers defence.

Kevin van Veen came on for the final few minutes with Williams making way. Ash Taylor looped a header over the crossbar but the Cobblers would have to settle for a well-earned point and a much improved performance in Curle’s managerial bow for Northampton Town.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 6  
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (3) 6          
FOULS: (6) 14        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 4 

BURY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 8 
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (2) 4 
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1 

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: NO GOALS SCORED

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