Northampton Town v Charlton Athletic
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday March 4th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Michael Smith 32
John-Joe O'Toole 62
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1
Jordan Botaka 36
Attendance: 7,118 (1,424 away fans)
Cobblers: Adam Smith, Aaron Phillips, David Buchanan, Gabriel Zakuani (sub Zander Diamond 21), Lewin Nyatanga, Matt Taylor, John-Joe O’Toole, Luke Williams (sub Paul Anderson 68), Gregg Wylde (sub Jak McCourt 80), Marc Richards, Michael Smith
Subs not used: Keshi Anderson, Harry Beautyman, Brendan Moloney, David Cornell
Charlton: Declan Rudd, Lewis Page (sub Adam Chicksen 74), Patrick Bauer (sub Jorge Teixeira 46), Andrew Crofts, Josh Magennis, Ricky Holmes, Jordan Botaka, Ezri Konsa Ngoyo, Fredrick Ulvestad, Nathan Byrne, Lee Novak (sub Tony Watt 76)
Subs not used: Johnnie Jackson, Dillon Phillips, Joe Aribo, Jay Da Silva
Referee: Ben Toner
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Charlton: Tony Watt (90)
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Charlton: 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.
Marc Richards, Aaron Phillips and the fit again Luke Williams came into the side as boss Justin Edinburgh made a trio of changes for the visit of Charlton. Keshi Anderson dropped to the bench with Neal Eardley unavailable for selection after his partner gave birth. Former Cobblers winger Ricky Holmes started for Karl Robinson’s Charlton.
After an opening twenty minutes shy of clear cut chances for either side, the Cobblers were forced to make a change when Gabriel Zakuani left the field with an injury. Zander Diamond came on to partner Lewin Nyatanga in central defence.
The breakthrough for the Cobblers came on 32 minutes, Michael Smith with a powerful header into the top corner following a terrific right-wing cross from Phillips.
Charlton looked for a quick response and they got it when Jordan Botaka equalised from close range, Adam Smith having initially denied Patrick Bauer.
Holmes curled a free-kick over the bar and the score remained 1-1 as the teams went off for half-time.
There was no question of either side sitting back and the second half started very open with both sides going for it, Charlton looking dangerous on the break.
John-Joe O’Toole fired the Cobblers back in front on 62 minutes, the in-form midfielder with a clean strike from around 14-yards that gave Declan Rudd no chance in the visitors goal. The goal came from another Aaron Phillips cross.
Paul Anderson came on for Luke Williams with just over twenty minutes to go while the final Cobblers change saw Jak McCourt replace Gregg Wylde.
Matt Taylor created a chance with another exemplary free-kick but Smith couldn’t quite get enough contact on the ball. In the end it mattered not though as the Cobblers saw the game out to claim a precious three points, moving above Charlton in the league table as a result and more importantly further away from the relegation zone.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 3
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 6
CHARLTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (5) 17
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta