SKY BET LEAGUE 2      
Saturday February 5th, 3.00pm
Banks's Stadium

WALSALL 0

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Louis Appere 10

Attendance: 5,315 (number of Cobblers fans not confirmed)

Walsall: Carl Rushworth, Hayden White, Donervon Daniels, Liam Kinsella, Conor Wilkinson, Emmanuel Osadebe (sub Tyrese Shade 71), George Miller, Jack Earing (sub Joss Labadie 77), Tom Leak, Rollin Menayese, Reece Devine (sub Brendan Kiernan 71)
Subs not used: Jack Rose, Alfie Bates, Sam Perry, Shay Willock
 
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan (sub Paul Lewis 46), Tyler Magloire, Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Ali Koiki (sub Idris Kanu 89), Jack Sowerby (sub Beryly Lubala 67), Shaun McWilliams, Sam Hoskins, Mitch Pinnock, Louis Appere
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Michael Harriman, Danny Rose, Josh Eppiah

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Booked:
Walsall: Liam Kinsella (66), Joss Labadie (88)
Cobblers: Louis Appere (65, 1st of the season), Shaun McWilliams (88, 9th)

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

Sent off:
Walsall: 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.

Striker Louis Appere, signed from Dundee United on deadline day at the start of the week, made his Northampton Town debut as boss Jon Brady made two changes for the trip to Walsall, centre-half Tyler Magloire, on-loan from Blackburn, also making his first start for the club as Brady switched to a back three.

Ten minutes in to his debut, Louis Appere put the Cobblers in front when he was in the right place at the right time to flick home a low free-kick from Mitch Pinnock.

Liam Roberts made a good save against his former club as George Miller took aim from 20-yards and it needed an even better stop from the Cobblers keeper to keep out a well-struck effort from Jack Earing. In first half stoppage time Jon Guthrie made an important defensive header to ensure the Cobblers led at half-time.

Aaron McGowan had to be replaced at half-time with Paul Lewis coming on and Sam Hoskins switching to right wing-back. Lewis was quickly into the action forcing Carl Rushworth into a save following a slick Cobblers move. The Walsall keeper then spilt a Shaun McWilliams shot from 20-yards before recovering to deny Appere a second goal with a terrific reaction save.

Rushworth made another good save to keep out a Pinnock free-kick before Beryly Lubala replaced Jack Sowerby. Brendon Kiernan and Tyrese Shade then came on in a double change for the Saddlers.

Earing had to be replaced by Joss Labadie after going down with a head injury in what was a concussion substitution while Walsall had an appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Sebastian Stockbridge.

Conor Wilkinson saw a shot well-saved by Roberts and also fired an effort just over the bar as the home side applied some late pressure. The Cobblers saw out the remainder of the time though, including seven minutes of stoppage time, to claim the three points.

WALSALL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 4        
FOULS: (3)  12      
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1