Burton Albion v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Thursday December 26, 3.00pm
Pirelli Stadium
BURTON ALBION 1
Ian Sharps 85
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 3,312 (Town fans not confirmed)
Burton: Dean Lyness, Phil Edwards, Chris Hussey (sub Alex MacDonald 61), Ian Sharps, Robbie Weir (sub Lee Bell 88), Damien McCrory, Jimmy Phillips, Adam McGurk, Matty Palmer, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Billy Kee (sub Rene Howe 77).
Subs not used: Benjamin Siegrist, Zander Diamond, Dominic Knowles, Michael Symes
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah, Joe Widdowson, Paul Reid (sub Danny Emerton 89), Lee Collins, Chris Hackett, Gary Deegan, Ben Tozer, Darren Carter, Izale McLeod (sub Roy O'Donovan 53), Luke Norris (sub David Moyo 83)
Subs not used: Ben McNamara, Ishmel Demontagnac, Matty Harriott, Matt Heath
Referee: Mr J Adcock
Booked:
Burton: none
Cobblers: Luke Norris (36, 1st of the season), Darren Carter (45, 5th, misses Portsmouth)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 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.
Cobblers caretaker boss Andy King made five changes to the side for the Boxing Day trip to Burton with Ben Tozer, recalled from his loan spell at Colchester, Lee Collins, Gary Deegan, Darren Carter and Luke Norris all restored to the starting eleven.
Mathias Doumbe, Ian Morris and Clive Platt all picked up injuries in the defeat against Wycombe while loan duo Stuart Dallas (Brentford) and Ricky Ravenhill (Bradford) had both been recalled by their parent clubs.
After a quiet start to the contest, Chris Hussey volleyed just wide on 28 minutes before a looping Billy Kee header was saved comfortably by Matt Duke.
From an Adam McGurk cross Duke then made a terrific save to keep out a flying header from Matty Palmer.
McGurk couldn't quite connect fully with a cross shot from Kee on 44 minutes as Duke ensured the first half ended goalless.
Roy O'Donovan replaced Izale McLeod on 53 minutes with the on-loan MK Dons striker appearing to have picked up an injury.
Darren Carter did well to set up a chance for O'Donovan on 62 minutes but his shot was saved by Dean Lyness.
Having survived a spell of Cobblers pressure Robbie Weir spurned a good chance for Burton from close range.
Burton took the lead on 85 minutes, Ian Sharps heading home from a Matty Palmer corner.
Danny Emerton came on for Paul Reid for the final two minutes plus stoppage time which the home side saw out to claim the three points.
BURTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 13
CORNERS: (4) 9
FOULS: (8) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 3
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (8) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.