Plymouth Argyle v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Tuesday January 12th, 7.45pm
Home Park
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1
Gregg Wylde 83
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
James Collins 38
Marc Richards 58
Attendance: 9,142 (Cobblers fans not confirmed)
Plymouth: Luke McCormick, Kelvin Mellor, Gary Sawyer, Carl McHugh, Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley, Josh Simpson, Reuben Reid (sub Gregg Wylde 67), Jake Jervis, Ryan Brunt, Oscar Threlkeld (sub Craig Tanner 65).
Subs not used: Tyler Harvey, Ben Purrington, Deane Smalley, James Bittner, Louis Rooney.
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, David Buchanan, John-Joe O’Toole, Joel Byrom, Ricky Holmes (sub Ryan Cresswell 90), Lawson D’Ath (sub Nicky Adams 40), James Collins, Marc Richards (sub Jason Taylor 88)
Subs not used: Ryan Clarke, Evan Horwood, Josh Lelan, Sam Hoskins
Referee: Mr K Stroud
Booked:
Plymouth: Peter Hartley (88), Ryan Brunt (90)
Cobblers: Zander Diamond (15, 2nd of the season), Brendan Moloney (57, 1st), Ricky Holmes (65, 1st), John-Joe O'Toole (87, 8th)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Plymouth: 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.
Northampton Town travelled to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night in a top of the table clash in Sky Bet League 2. Argyle started the evening three points ahead of the Cobblers but having played a game more.
James Collins made his debut up front alongside Marc Richards while Rod McDonald kept his place in central defence with Zander Diamond replacing Ryan Cresswell.
An early cross from Brendan Moloney was headed over by Richards as the Cobblers started the night on the front foot. At the other end, Carl McHugh spurned a chance to put the home side ahead from a corner while Reuben Reid dragged a shot wide.
Adam Smith made a good save to tip over a Reid header before Collins was nearly in for a debut goal when Luke McCormick spilled a John-Joe O’Toole shot.
James Collins did open the scoring on 38 minutes, capitalising on a mix up between Kelvin Mellor and Luke McCormick to calmly slot home a debut goal after taking the ball away from the Argyle keeper. The Cobblers were then forced into making a change when Lawson D’Ath picked up an injury, Nicky Adams coming on.
Ricky Holmes headed a chance just wide as the Cobblers started the second half on the offensive and looking for a second goal.
That second goal duly came on 58 minutes, Marc Richards on the end of John-Joe O’Toole’s set up.
A vital interception from Mellor denied Richards a near certain second as Chris Wilder’s side showed no signs of easing up.
Adams fired over as the game entered the final ten minutes before Smith did well to prevent a backward header from Diamond pulling a goal back for Plymouth.
It wasn’t long before Argyle’s deficit was halved though as substitute Gregg Wylde side-footed home to set up a tense finale.
Jason Taylor came on for Richards before six minutes of added on time was indicated by the fourth official.
Wylde headed just wide from a Plymouth corner in injury time but the Cobblers were to claim the victory that lifted them level on points with the league leaders.
PLYMOUTH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (4) 9
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (6) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta