MK Dons v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday January 21st, 3.00pm
Stadium MK
MK DONS 5
Kieron Agard 38
Chuks Aneke 43 pen, 56
Darren Potter 64
Harvey Barnes 79
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3
Gregg Wylde 62
Marc Richards 71, 83 pen
Attendance: 12,300 (3,039 Cobblers fans)
MK Dons: David Martin (sub Lee Nicholls 70), George Baldock, Dean Lewington, Joe Walsh, Ed Upson, Darren Potter, George Williams, Kieran Agard (sub Robbie Muirhead 76), Paul Downing, Chuks Aneke (sub Harvey Barnes 76), Nicky Maynard
Subs not used: Daniel Powell, Giorgio Rasulo, Callum Brittain, Kabongo Tshimanga
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Neal Eardley, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Lewin Nyatanga, Hiram Boateng, Matt Taylor, John-Joe O’Toole, Harry Beautyman (sub Gregg Wylde 61), Alex Revell (sub Keshi Anderson 23), Marc Richards
Subs not used: Raheem Hanley, Jak McCourt, Alfie Potter, Emmanuel Sonupe, David Cornell
Referee: Mr R East
Booked:
MK Dons: George Williams (65), Chuls Aneke (74), Ed Upson (87), Darren Potter (90)
Cobblers: Matt Taylor (12, 5th of the season), Lewin Nyatanga (74, 2nd), Hiram Boateng (84, 2nd)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
MK Dons: 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.
Justin Edinburgh took charge of the Cobblers for the first time as the team made the short trip to Stadium MK. Harry Beautyman came into the side with Sam Hoskins ruled out with a season-ending knee injury picked up in training. New loan signing, Crystal Palace striker Keshi Anderson, was named on the bench.
After a positive start from the Cobblers without really creating any clear cut chances, new boss Justin Edinburgh was forced to make a change midway through the first half when former Dons striker Alex Revell picked up a leg injury, Keshi Anderson coming on to make his debut.
Lewin Nyatanga made a good block to deny George Baldock and not long after the home side had the lead, Kieran Agard running onto a through ball from Chuks Aneke to break the deadlock.
Aneke then doubled the Dons lead from the penalty spot, referee Roger East awarding the spot kick for a handball against Nyatanga.
Nicky Maynard found the side netting via a touch from Adam Smith at the start of the second half, the home side breaking quickly to try and catch the Cobblers on the counter-attack. At the other end Harry Beautyman fired wide following some good work from Marc Richards and Keshi Anderson.
MK Dons increased their lead on 56 minutes, Chuks Aneke with a strike from distance that may have taken a deflection to deceive Smith.
Anderson missed a good chance to pull a goal back for the Cobblers but it wasn’t long before they were back in the contest, substitute Gregg Wylde with a neat half-volley, just moment after coming on.
As the flurry of goals continued, Darren Potter’s deflected effort made it 4-1 to the home side, just as the Cobblers were building up a head of steam.
Neal Eardley went close to notching his first goal for the club as Justin Edinburgh’s side refused to lie down, showing real spirit despite the scoreline.
The Cobblers certainly weren’t giving up the ghost and a Marc Richards near post header from Matt Taylor’s corner made it 4-2 with just under 20 minutes to go.
Harvey Barnes restored the Dons three-goal lead with a low shot past Smith on 79 minutes but the cushion was soon back down to two, Marc Richards scoring from the penalty spot after Anderson was brought down in the area. 5-3.
Smith made a smart save to prevent Barnes scoring his second of the afternoon as the game entered six minutes of stoppage time. It had been a remarkable game but there were no more goals and the Cobblers, despite a spirited display, had left themselves just too much to do.
MK DONS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (1) 5
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (6) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta