Northampton Town v Swindon Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday February 14th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Lloyd Jones own goal 64
John-Joe O'Toole 82
SWINDON TOWN 1
Luke Norris 81
Attendance: 5,094 (423 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Neal Eardley, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Lewin Nyatanga, Hiram Boateng, Matt Taylor (sub Jak McCourt 85), John-Joe O’Toole, Keshi Anderson (sub Gregg Wylde 85), Marc Richards, Michael Smith
Subs not used: Paul Anderson, Raheem Hanley, Harry Beautyman, Aaron Phillips, David Cornell
Swindon: Lawrence Vigouroux, Nathan Thompson, Ben Gladwin, Jonathan Obika (sub Luke Norris 64), James Brophy, Nicky Ajose, Charlie Colkett, Fankaty Dabo (sub Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill 46), Dion Conroy (sub John Goddard 70), Lloyd Jones, Raphael Rossi-Branco
Subs not used: Conor Thomas, Anton Rodgers, Yaser Kasim, Will Henry
Referee: Darren Handley
Booked:
Cobblers: Michael Smith (36, 1st of the season)
Swindon: Fankaty Dabo (7), Charlie Colkett (36), Ben Gladwin (44), Raphael Rossi-Branco (57)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Swindon: 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.
Justin Edinburgh kept with the same starting eleven for the second of back-to back home games. There was however one change on the bench with Raheem Hanley replacing Rod McDonald, the defender sidelined after picking up a knock in training. Striker Luke Norris, who had a loan spell at Sixfields at the end of 2013, was among the substitutes for Swindon.
John-Joe O’Toole and Keshi Anderson combined to create an early opening for Marc Richards but his shot curled over the bar. Anderson then tested Lawrence Vigouroux before the Cobblers were awarded a penalty, Fankaty Dabo with a trip on Anderson.
Richards stepped up only to see his well struck spot kick tipped away by Vigouroux.
Michael Smith, playing against his former club, drilled a shot just wide as the Cobblers continued to create chances. Adam Smith was tested for the first time on 37 minutes, saving from Ben Gladwin.
Vigouroux again denied Richards following some good work by Hiram Boateng while Dion Conroy spurned a good chance for Swindon after being fed in by Jonathan Obika.
An instinctive save from Smith prevented Conroy heading Swindon in front at the start of the second half with Nicky Ajose’s follow-up effort cleared off the line by Zander Diamond.
The Cobblers made the breakthrough on 64 minutes, a terrific cross from Neal Eardley proving too much for the Swindon defence with Lloyd Jones getting the final touch under pressure from Michael Smith.
The goal lifted the home side and Keshi Anderson almost made it 2-0 moments later, his shot bouncing back off the post.
Swindon equalised on 81 minutes, substitute Luke Norris heading in following a good run and cross from James Brophy.
The scores weren’t level for long though and the Cobblers were soon back in front, John-Joe O’Toole with a powerful near post header from a Matt Taylor corner.
Jak McCourt and Gregg Wylde came on in a double change before Vigouroux saved one-on-one from Richards. Four minutes of injury time were added and in that time McCourt made a superb block to protect the advantage. Richards went close again as the Cobblers saw the game out to record their third straight home win.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (6) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4
SWINDON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 5
CORNERS: (0) 5
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta