Northampton Town v Plymouth Argyle
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 22nd, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 2
Graham Carey 39
Jake Jervis 72
Attendance: 4,505 (710 from Plymouth)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Ryan Cresswell, Josh Lelan, Joel Byrom (sub Paul Corry 76, Ryan Watson, Nicky Adams (sub Sam Hoskins 63), Alfie Potter (sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin 46), Lawson D’Ath, Marc Richards.
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Rod McDonald, John-Joe O’Toole, Chris Hackett.
Plymouth Argyle: Luke McCormick, Kelvin Mellor, Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley, Gary Sawyer, Carl McHugh, Graham Carey, Hiram Boateng (sub Craig Tanner 82), Jake Jervis, Reuben Reid (sub Ryan Brunt 15), Gregg Wylde (sub Josh Simpson 46).
Subs not used: James Bittner, Lee Cox, Ben Purrington, Tyler Harvey.
Referee: Mr N Kinseley
Booked:
Cobblers: Zander Diamond (90, 1st of the season)
Plymouth: Carl McHugh (54)
5 cautions on or before 30 November; 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:
Cobblers: Josh Lelan (90, second booking, 1 match ban)
Plymouth: 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.
Zander Diamond, Nicky Adams, Alfie Potter, Marc Richards and Ryan Watson, making his second debut for the club after rejoining on loan from Leicester City, all came into the side for the visit of Plymouth Argyle. Jason Taylor (suspended) and Ricky Holmes (back) both missed out while Chris Hackett, Sam Hoskins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin dropped to the bench.
On an extremely hot and humid afternoon at Sixfields it was Plymouth who had the first chance of the game, Peter Hartley heading over from a corner. Argyle were then dealt a blow on the quarter hour with Reuben Reid having to be replaced by Ryan Brunt.
The Cobblers first attempt on goal came on 19 minutes, Nicky Adams seeing a shot saved by Luke McCormick after some good build-up play involving Alfie Potter and Marc Richards.
A dipping Lawson D’Ath shot from distance went just over the bar following a scrappy ten minute period with both sides struggling to get on top in a tight game.
It was Plymouth though who took the lead, Graham Carey slotting the ball into the bottom corner. The goal came out of nothing with Argyle capitalising on a loss of possession in the Cobblers midfield.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaced Alfie Potter at half-time with Plymouth also making a change, Josh Simpson coming on for Greg Wilde.
Plymouth had a brief spell of pressure ten minutes into the second half, Adam Smith making two terrific saves, the first to tip Graham Carey’s shot onto the crossbar and the second, from the subsequent corner, to deny Jake Jervis at close range.
Sam Hoskins joined the action on 63 minutes at the expense of Nicky Adams before Luke McCormick made a good save to keep out a Ryan Cresswell header.
Jake Jervis doubled Argyle’s lead on 72 minutes, getting the final touch following a scramble in the Cobblers penalty area, leaving Adam Smith protesting that he had been blocked off in the build-up.
There was no way back for the Cobblers after that and they ended the game with ten men, Josh Lelan sent off in stoppage time after being shown a second yellow card.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 1
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (7) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 9
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta