SKY BET LEAGUE 1      
Sunday May 9th, 12.00pm      
Stadium of Light

SUNDERLAND 1
Carl Winchester 87

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Sam Hoskins 84

Sunderland: Lee Burge, Conor McLaughlin (sub Chris Maguire 52), Bailey Wright, Max Power (sub Carl Winchester 66), Charlie Wyke (sub Aiden O'Brien 66), Lynden Gooch, Luke O’Nien, Josh Scowen (sub Grant Leadbitter 66), Jack Diamond (sub Aiden McGeady 46), Jordan Jones, Denver Hume
Subs not used: Remi Matthews, Callum McFadzean
 
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Michael Harriman, Lloyd Jones, Fraser Horsfall, Shaun McWilliams, Bryn Morris, Ryan Watson (sub Morgan Roberts 86), Sam Hoskins, Mickel Miller (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 75), Mark Marshall (sub Liam Cross 78), Danny Rose (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 86)
Subs not used: Charlie Woods, Cian Bolger, Alex Jones

Referee: Sam Barrott

Booked:
Sunderland: Luke O'Nien (59), Bailey Wright (83)
Cobblers: Mickel Miller (21, 3rd of the season)

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Sunderland: 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.

Northampton Town signed off their 2020/21 Sky Bet League 1 campaign with a trip to Sunderland, the Cobblers first ever league fixture at the Stadium of Light. The game came less than 24 hours after it was confirmed Jon Brady would be the club’s new permanent manager with Marc Richards named as first-team coach.

Sam Hoskins started at right-back with Michael Harriman at left-back, both Peter Kioso and Joseph Mills having had their seasons ended prematurely through injury. Danny Rose was named up front in place of Alex Jones while Mark Marshall was also handed a start.

Sunderland, with a play-off place already secured, had the first sight at goal in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off, Jonathan Mitchell saving comfortably from Jordan Jones. Ryan Watson shot over from distance and Jack Diamond headed over from a corner in a fairly even opening half hour.

Lloyd Jones made an important block on the edge of the area as Diamond took aim and in first half stoppage time Lynden Gooch’s dangerous cross primed for Charlie Wyke was intercepted by Hoskins to ensure the first half ended goalless.

Aiden McGeady came on for the second half which started with Mitchell making a good save to deny Gooch from a tight angle. Sunderland wanted a corner when Jones' shot found the side netting via what appeared a deflection while from a Cobblers corner Watson glanced a header wide.

Caleb Chukwuemeka came on for Mickel Miller in the Cobblers first change before Jones spurned a good chance to put the hosts in front, firing over the bar when well-placed on the edge of the area. Cobblers academy midfielder Liam Cross then came on to make his first team debut with just over ten minutes to play.

Sam Hoskins' deflected free-kick put the Cobblers in front on 84 minutes but the lead was fairly short lived, Sunderland substitute Carl Winchester scoring from close range after a Jones cross came back off both posts.

Sunderland then pushed for a winner but the Cobblers, who had more than held their own, deservedly came away with a point as the curtain came down on the season.

SUNDERLAND MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (5) 7       
FOULS: (9) 13       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (9) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1