Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday October 22nd, 3.00pm
Greenhous Meadow
SHREWSBURY TOWN 2
Ivan Toney 36 pen, 90 pen
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 4
Gabriel Zakuani 22
Paul Anderson 31, 89
Sam Hoskins 65
Attendance: 5,023 (593 Cobblers fans)
Shrewsbury: Jayson Leutwiler, Joe Riley, Mat Sadler, Ryan McGivern, Olli Lancashire (sub Antoni Sarcevic 45), Ian Black (sub Gary Deegan 33), Abu Ogogo, Ivan Toney, Louis Dodds, Junior Brown, George Waring (sub AJ Leitch-Smith 68)
Subs not used: Mark Halstead, Jim O’Brien, Andy Mangan, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Gabriel Zakuani (sub Lewin Nyatanga 46), Jak McCourt, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Marc Richards 85), Paul Anderson, Sam Hoskins, JJ Hooper, Alex Revell
Subs not used: David Cornell, Kenji Gorre, Alfie Potter, Harry Beautyman, Joel Byrom
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Booked:
Shrewsbury: Ryan McGivern (58), Louis Dodds (68)
Cobblers: Gabriel Zakuani (35, 2nd of the season), Alex Revell (45, 5th), John-Joe O'Toole (73, 8th), Adam Smith (90, 2nd)
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:
Shrewsbury: 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.
Back from suspension, Jak McCourt returned to the Cobblers midfield for the trip to Shrewsbury. John-Joe O’Toole and JJ Hooper were also recalled as boss Rob Page made three changes to the side beaten at Peterborough in midweek. Marc Richards, Lewin Nyatanga and Joel Byrom dropped to the bench while Matt Taylor served the final game of his three-match ban. Former Cobblers striker Ivan Toney started up front for the Shrews.
Jayson Leutwiler made a good early save to keep out a Paul Anderson header as the Cobblers started positively at the Greenhous Meadow. At the other end Adam Smith saved with his legs to deny Ian Black.
The Cobblers had dominated the opening 20 minutes and deservedly took the lead through Gabriel Zakuani, the defender heading home from a Jak McCourt corner.
Paul Anderson made it 2-0 on the half hour, tucking the ball in at the far post following a terrific left-wing run and cross from JJ Hooper.
Shrewsbury were handed a potential lifeline when referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot, Ivan Toney converting after Zakuani was penalised.
Having already lost Ian Black the home side were forced into making a second change just before half-time, Antoni Sarcevic replacing the injured Olli Lancashire.
Lewin Nyatanga replaced Gabriel Zakuani at half-time, Zakuani having been booked for the foul on Toney that lead to the penalty.
Alex Revell headed just wide from another pin-point corner from McCourt as the Cobblers continued to create the majority of chances. Leutwiler did well to keep out a dipping effort from McCourt while Junior Brown nearly put through his own net as the Cobblers continued to pile on the pressure.
It had been coming and the Cobblers two goal lead was restored on 65 minutes, Sam Hoskins firing home after the Shrews failed to clear from a corner.
Marc Richards came on for the final few minutes and the Cobblers increased their lead as the game approached stoppage time, Paul Anderson scoring with a shot from the edge of the area.
Ivan Toney scored his second penalty of the game deep into added time but it mattered not as Rob Page’s side bounced back from back-to-back defeats in impressive fashion.
SHREWSBURY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 9
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 14
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (6) 13
FOULS: (8) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta