Millwall v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Friday April 14th, 3.00pm
The New Den
MILLWALL 3
Aiden O'Brien 27
Jed Wallace 38, 45
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 10,886 (672 Cobblers fans)
Millwall: Tom King, Joe Martin, Shaun Hutchinson, Shaun Williams, Ben Thompson, Lee Gregory (sub David Worrall 65), Mahlon Romeo, Jed Wallace (sub Fred Onyedinma 73), Byron Webster, Steve Morison (sub Calum Butcher 83), Aiden O’Brien
Subs not used: Jordan Archer, Jake Cooper, Shaun Cummings, Jimmy Abdou
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Aaron Phillips, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Lewin Nyatanga, Matt Taylor, Paul Anderson, Keshi Anderson (sub Alex Revell 60), Luke Williams (sub Brendan Moloney 68), Marc Richards, Michael Smith (sub Hiram Boateng 23)
Subs not used: Rod McDonald, Shaun McWilliams, Jak McCourt, David Cornell
Referee: Graham Salisbury
Booked:
Millwall: none
Cobblers: Luke Williams (52, 2nd of the season)
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Millwall: 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.
The Cobblers kicked off their Easter Weekend double header with a trip to the capital to take on Millwall at the New Den. Aaron Phillips and Keshi Anderson came into the side with Brendan Moloney dropped to the bench and John-Joe O’Toole, still struggling with a groin injury, not named in the matchday squad.
Aiden O’Brien was denied by the woodwork as Millwall looked to take an early lead, his shot through a crowd of players striking the base of the post. The Cobblers first strike on goal came from Matt Taylor, his effort was saved by Lions goalkeeper Tom King.
Midway through the first half the Cobblers were forced into making a change, Hiram Boateng replacing Michael Smith.
Having hit the post earlier in the half it was Aiden O’Brien who broke the deadlock with a well-struck volley following a neat intricate move from the home side.
Zander Diamond saw a shot saved by King as the Cobblers responded well to falling behind, with Luke Williams and Paul Anderson also both seeing efforts well-saved by the Lions keeper.
Jed Wallace doubled the home side’s lead with a terrific strike on 38 minutes, the Wolves loanee capitalising after the Cobblers defence failed to clear the initial danger.
King saved a Taylor free-kick in first half stoppage time but it was Millwall who scored again before the break, Jed Wallace on target from six-yards following an O’Brien cross.
Alex Revell came on for Keshi Anderson on the hour mark before Adam Smith made a good save to deny Lee Gregory. Luke Williams was then forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury, Brendan Moloney coming on.
An ambitious overhead kick from Lions substitute Fred Onyedinma went over the bar as the game neared full-time while at the other end King saved a Revell header.
The game had petered out somewhat in the second half and Millwall looked comfortable as they maintained their place in the play-offs. Results elsewhere meant the Cobblers stayed six points clear of the relegation zone with three games to go.
MILLWALL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (2) 8
FOULS: (10) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 2
CORNERS: (7) 7
FOULS: (8) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta