SKY BET LEAGUE 1      
Saturday November 21st, 3.00pm      
Pirelli Stadium

BURTON ALBION 1
Lucas Akins 90 pen

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Harry Smith 2, 67
Chris Lines 81

Burton: Ben Garratt, John Brayford, Ryan Edwards (sub Steven Lawless 46), Michael Bostwick, Stephen Quinn, Lucas Akins, Indiana Vassilev (sub Charles Vernam 46), Owen Gallacher (sub Joe Powell 77), Neal Eardley, Ciaran Gilligan (sub Tom Hewlett 87), Niall Ennis
Subs not used: Kieran O’Hara, Ben Fox, John-Joe O’Toole
 
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Fraser Horsfall, Cian Bolger, Alan Sheehan, Shaun McWilliams (sub Christopher Missilou 84), Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Mark Marshall, Ricky Holmes (sub Chris Lines 65), Harry Smith (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 84), Caleb Chukwuemeka (sub Michael Harriman 70)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Danny Rose, Nicky Adams

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Booked:
Burton: Indiana Vassilev (21), Stephen Quinn (88)
Cobblers: Caleb Chukwuemeka (53, 1st of the season)

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:
Burton: 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.

Caleb Chukwuemeka, Shaun McWilliams, Mark Marshall, Sam Hoskins and Harry Smith all came into the Northampton Town side for the trip to Burton Albion as boss Keith Curle made five changes from the side that started the midweek Papa John’s Trophy fixture with Stevenage.

On the front foot from kick-off, the Cobblers took the lead inside 90 seconds, Harry Smith heading home after Alan Sheehan’s free-kick was flicked on by Hoskins. Mark Marshall then saw a shot blocked when he was played in by Caleb Chukwuemeka, as the Cobblers looked for a second goal to reward their early dominance.

A deflected free-kick from former Cobbler Neal Eardley was comfortably saved by Jonathan Mitchell and John Brayford headed over as Burton started to grow into the contest but the Cobblers maintained their single goal lead going in at half-time.

Sam Hoskins shot just wide and Ricky Holmes saw a free-kick tipped over the bar as the Cobblers started the second half in a similar fashion to the first, firmly on the offensive. Keith Curle then made a change with Chris Lines coming on for Ricky Holmes.

Harry Smith doubled the Cobblers lead midway through the second half, poking the ball past Ben Garratt after being fed in superbly by Jack Sowerby.

Burton almost immediately pulled a goal back when a Niall Ennis effort rebounded against the post but Chris Lines made it 3-0 with a terrific volley at the back post, Marshall providing the assist with a pin-point cross.

Lucas Akins scored from the penalty spot in injury time to deny the Cobblers a clean sheet but the victory was secure.

BURTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 8       
FOULS: (12) 20        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (10) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3