PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Saturday July 24th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Mitch Pinnock 12
Nicke Kabamba 23
Caleb Chukwuemeka 69
BIRMINGHAM CITY 2
Ivan Sanchez 5
Lukas Jutkiewicz 38
Attendance: 3,698 (including 1,786 away supporters)
Cobblers: Jonny Maxted (sub Liam Roberts 67), Aaron McGowan (sub Sid Nelson 65), Ali Koiki (sub Joseph Mills 56), Fraser Horsfall, Jon Guthrie, Paul Lewis (sub Scott Pollock 74), Jordan Flores, Dylan Connolly (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 56), Mitch Pinnock, Nicke Kabamba (sub Michael Harriman 56), Benny Ashley-Seal (sub Liam Cross 76)
Subs not used: Josh Flanagan, Max Dyche
Birmingham: Matija Sarkic, Maxime Colin, Kristian Pedersen, George Friend, Ryan Woods, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Jeremie Bela, Harlee Dean, Jonathan Leko, Ivan Sanchez (sub Remi Walker 74), Gary Gardner
Subs not used: Keyendrah Simmonds, Kyle Hurst, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Rico Browne, Connal Trueman
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Birmingham: none
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Birmingham: none
Following on from a successful family fun day, Northampton Town welcomed Birmingham City to Sixfields for their final home pre-season fixture.
Scott Pollock returned to be among the substitutes and with a number of other players coming towards the end of their self isolation period, Jon Brady’s side showed one change from the side that started the midweek fixture against Nottingham Forest, with Jonny Maxted replacing Liam Roberts in goal. Joseph Mills was also named on the bench for the first time this pre-season as he stepped up his recovery from his end of season ankle injury.
In front of a very healthy pre-season crowd, the visitors had the lead in the fifth minute, Ivan Sanchez firing powerfully home after a fine solo run.
Mitch Pinnock equalised seven minutes later, Paul Lewis started the move by winning the ball back inside his own half and playing a pass up to Nicke Kabamba. Kabamba’s knock down found Benny Ashley-Seal who released Pinnock in to the area to slot a neat finish beyond Sarkic.
Maxted saved a Jutkiewicz header as the first half neared the midway point, and moments later at the other end, Nicke Kabamba gave the Cobblers the lead, robbing keeper Sarkic and tapping home from close range.
Jutkiewicz headed wide from a Kristian Pedersen cross on 29 minutes, while Pinnock was close to his second goal and a third for the Cobblers on 36 minutes when he curled a 22 yard free kick inches wide of the post.
The Blues were level on 38 minutes when Pedersen delivered a left wing cross that Lukas Jutkiewicz arrived late to head home to ensure an entertaining first half ended level.
Maxted made an excellent save at the start of the second half to deny Jutkiewicz, and the Cobblers keeper was soon in action again getting behind a long range shot from Gary Gardner after Fraser Horsfall had blocked a Sanchez effort.
Some 56th minute changes saw Joseph Mills make a welcome return to action, before the Cobblers lead was restored on 69 minutes, a Caleb Chukwuemeka shot taking a deflection to wrong foot Sarkic.
Jutkiewicz was close again for the visitors as the game entered the final 20 minutes, as the Blues went even closer four minutes later, Cobblers substitute keeper Liam Roberts doing superbly well to tip a Jonathan Leko header on to the bar.
Gardner headed wide for Birmingham from a Jeremie Bela cross on 81 minutes in the final opportunity of the game.
Next up for the Cobblers is a game against AFC Rushden & Diamonds at Wellingborough on Tuesday night, a match preceded by an open training session at Sixfields.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (5) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
BIRMINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 7
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (13) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
