CARABAO CUP FIRST ROUND
Tuesday August 8th, 7.45pm
Loftus Road
QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS 1
Yeni Ngbakoto 35
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 4,317 (735 Cobblers fans)
QPR: Matt Ingram, Darnell Furlong, Nedum Onuoha, Luke Freeman (sub Ilias Chair 62), Ryan Manning, Steven Caulker, Ariel Borysiuk, Matt Smith (sub Conor Washington 57), Jack Robinson, Yeni Ngbakoto, Idrissa Sylla (sub Michael Petrasso 74)
Subs: Joe Lumley, Alex Baptiste, Massimo Luongo, Pawel Wszolek
Cobblers: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Aaron Phillips, David Buchanan (sub George Smith 80), Matt Crooks, Yaser Kasim, Chris Long (sub Leon Lobjoit 69), Billy Waters, Alex Revell (sub Marc Richards 69)
Subs: James Goff, Regan Poole, Matt Taylor, Dean Bowditch
Referee: Mr Charles Breakspear
Booked:
QPR: Steven Caulker (30), Ryan Manning (44)
Cobblers: Leon Barnett (20, 1st of the season), Aaron Pierre (45, 1st), George Smith (90, 1st)
Sent off:
QPR: none
Cobblers: Leon Barnett (53, 2nd bookable offence, one match suspension)
Chris Long, Alex Revell, Yaser Kasim and Aaron Phillips all came into the side as boss Justin Edinburgh made four changes for the Carabao Cup first round tie away at QPR. Daniel Powell (hamstring) was rested as a precaution while former Cobblers loanee Darnell Furlong lined up for Rangers.
Burnley loanee Long drew a fine save from Matt Ingram as the Cobblers started brightly at Loftus Road, referee Charles Breakspear having already disallowed a Cobblers goal on 5 minutes for an apparent push on the QPR keeper.
Although the Cobblers had shown plenty as an attacking force, Yeni Ngbakoto opened the scoring for QPR on 37 minutes, tucking home from close range following a good initial save from David Cornell. The goal was harsh on the Cobblers who had been more than holding their own against Championship opposition up to that point and they were almost immediately back on level terms, Ingram making a good save to keep out an effort from Billy Waters.
The Cobblers again started the brighter of the two sides in the second half but there task was made even more difficult when on 53 minutes they were reduced to ten men, Leon Barnett shown a second yellow card following a coming together with Idrissa Sylla.
Leon Lobjoit came on to make his debut for the club midway through the second half as Justin Edinburgh made a double change in attack, Marc Richards also introduced with Alex Revell and Chris Long making way.
Lobjoit nearly scored with a looping header from a Yaser Kasim corner, the debutant cruelly denied by a goal line clearance as the Cobblers continued to push hard for an equaliser despite their numerical disadvantage.
George Smith, also making his Cobblers debut, replaced David Buchanan for the final ten minutes before QPR were denied a second by the woodwork, Cornell also possibly getting a touch to Ryan Manning’s shot. Aaron Pierre was then on hand to clear the danger.
A header from Aaron Phillips was deflected just wide as the game neared the 90-minute mark. Six minutes of stoppage time ensued but despite a strong penalty shout for what looked like a push on Billy Waters there was to be no Cobblers equaliser and QPR held on to book their place in round two.
QPR MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6
CORNERS: (2) 7
FOULS: (10) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (9) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1