SKY BET LEAGUE 1      
Saturday December 5th, 3.00pm      
PTS Academy Stadium

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

DONCASTER ROVERS 2
Tyreece John-Jules 36
Joe Wright 57

Attendance: 1,164

Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Michael Harriman, Fraser Horsfall, Cian Bolger (sub Nicky Adams 71), Mark Marshall (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 63), Shaun McWilliams, Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Christopher Missilou, Ricky Holmes (sub Danny Rose 63), Harry Smith (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 76)
Subs not used: Jonathan Mitchell, Ryan Watson, Chris Lines
 
Doncaster: Joe Lumley, Brad Halliday (sub Matt Smith 46), Reece James, Tom Anderson, Joe Wright, Ben Whiteman, Taylor Richards (sub Larak Hasani 83), Tyreece John-Jules (sub James Coppinger 76), Josh Sims (sub Ed Williams 83), Andy Butler, Cameron John (sub Fejiri Okenabirhie 46)
Subs not used: Jason Lokilo, Louis Jones

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Booked:
Cobblers: Fraser Horsfall (27, 2nd of the season)
Doncaster: Brad Halliday (25)

5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Cobblers: Shaun McWilliams (18)    
Doncaster: 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.

For the first time since early March, some fans were back at the PTS Academy Stadium as Northampton Town welcomed Doncaster Rovers. Just over 1,000 season ticket holders were in attendance in accordance with safety guidelines.

Buoyed by the return of supporters, boss Keith Curle was however dealt a blow in team selection with Alan Sheehan ruled out through injury. Ricky Holmes, Mark Marshall and Christopher Missilou came into the side as Curle made three changes from the team that started the midweek win over Fleetwood Town.

After a tight opening ten minutes, Ricky Holmes curled a shot over and Joe Lumley saved from Harry Smith while Ben Whiteman warmed the gloves of Steve Arnold with a low strike from 20-yards.

The Cobblers were down to ten men when referee Graham Salisbury sent off Shaun McWilliams following a challenge on Andy Butler.

Despite their numerical disadvantage the Cobblers continued to more than hold their own until Tyreece John-Jules broke the deadlock for Rovers on 36 minutes, chipping the ball over Arnold after robbing Marshall of possession, the ball crossing the goal line despite the best efforts of Cian Bolger to keep it out. Bolger then made an important block to deny Taylor Richards doubling the lead in first half stoppage time.

Rovers made a couple of changes at half-time with Fejiri Okenabirhie and Matt Smith coming on. The referee was unmoved when Holmes went down in the area as the Cobblers started the second half brightly but the visitors doubled their lead on 57 minutes, Joe Wright getting the final touch to a teasing Reece James cross.

Danny Rose and Benny Ashley-Seal replaced Holmes and Marshall in a double substitution by Keith Curle before Arnold made a good save from John-Jules.

Hoskins shot just wide after doing well to win the ball in the middle of the park before Bolger had to come off after picking up a knock, Nicky Adams on for the Cobblers captain.

Ben Whiteman had a chance to make it 3-0 to the visitors from the penalty spot after an adjudged handball by Michael Harriman but Arnold made a terrific diving save to deny Rovers top goalscorer and ensure the final scoreline was 0-2.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (1) 4         
FOULS: (7) 11       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

DONCASTER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 9 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (12) 22
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1