SKY BET LEAGUE 1       
Saturday October 3rd, 3.00pm      
Memorial Stadium

BRISTOL ROVERS 2
Brandon Hanlan 56 pen
Jack Baldwin 79

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Bristol Rovers: Anssi Jaakkola, Josh Grant, Max Ehmer, Zain Westbrooke, Brandon Hanlan, Luke McCormick (sub Cameron Hargreaves 85), James Daly (sub Sam Nicholson 72), Josh Hare, David Tutonda, Cian Harries, Jack Baldwin
Subs not used: Jordi Van Stappershoef, Luke Leahy, Ed Upson, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Alfie Kilgour

Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Michael Harriman (sub Ricky Korboa 57), Luka Racic, Cian Bolger, Joe Martin, Joseph Mills, Ryan Watson, Christopher Missilou (sub Jack Sowerby 57), Sam Hoskins, Matt Warburton (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 57), Harry Smith
Subs not used: Jonathan Mitchell, Danny Rose, Nicky Adams, Mark Marshall

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Booked:
Bristol Rovers: Josh Grant (23)
Cobblers: Luka Racic (12, 1st of the season), Joe Martin (36, 1st), Ryan Watson (82, 2nd), Cian Bolger (90, 1st)

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:
Bristol Rovers: none      
Cobblers: Joe Martin (60)

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.

Latest signing striker Danny Rose was named on the bench for Northampton Town’s trip to Bristol Rovers as Sam Hoskins made his 200th appearance for the club. Michael Harriman replaced Mark Marshall in the only change to the starting line-up while another recent addition, Jack Sowerby, was included among the substitutes alongside the fit again Benny Ashley-Seal and Ricky Korboa. One notable name on the Rovers bench was Cameron Hargreaves, son of former Cobblers midfielder Chris Hargreaves.

On a rainy afternoon in Bristol the Cobblers tried a couple of early shots from range before the home side survived a scramble in the box following a teasing ball in from Joseph Mills. Cian Harries then had the ball in the net from a Rovers corner only to be denied by an off-side flag.

Christopher Missilou went close from 15-yards and also had a shot blocked at close range following a slight lull in the action.

In a first half fairly bereft of clear cut chances for either side, Rovers went close in stoppage time, Luke McCormick curling a low shot just wide.

Ten minutes into the second half Brandon Hanlan put Rovers in front from the penalty spot after being adjudged to have been brought down by Cian Bolger. Keith Curle immediately reacted by making a triple change, Ricky Korboa, Benny Ashley-Seal and Jack Sowerby all coming on, Sowerby to make his debut.

A goal down with half an hour to play the Cobblers were then dealt a further blow when Joe Martin was shown a second yellow card by referee Sam Purkiss following a foul on goalscorer Hanlan.

Jack Baldwin doubled the home side’s lead on 79 minutes, Harries heading a corner back across goal for the former Sunderland defender to finish from close range.

Rovers pushed for a third goal with Steve Arnold making a sharp save to deny Sam Nicholson, Hoskins forced into a goal line clearance and Josh Hare rattling the cross bar. At the other end Anssi Jaakkola saved from Hoskins as the Cobblers tried to pull a goal back late on but Rovers claimed the victory.

BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (5) 10        
FOULS: (5) 11        
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3

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