SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday November 18th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
SCUNTHORPE UNITED 3
Cameron Burgess 57
Duane Holmes 59, 74
Attendance: 5,181 (306 visiting supporters)
Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Brendan Moloney, David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Lewis McGugan, Matt Grimes, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Sam Foley 45), Billy Waters (sub Dean Bowditch 80), Matt Crooks, Chris Long
Subs not used: David Cornell, Shaun McWilliams, Ryan McGivern, Marc Richards, Regan Poole
Scunthorpe: Matt Gilks, Jordan Clarke, Murray Wallace, Funso Ojo, Neal Bishop, Tom Hopper (sub Charlie Goode 83), Hakeeb Adelakun, Lee Novak (sub Paddy Madden 67), Duane Holmes (sub Conor Townsend 76), Cameron Burgess, Rory McArdle
Subs not used: Andrew Crofts, Kevin van Veen, Levi Sutton, Rory Watson
Referee: Mr Michael Salisbury
Booked:
Cobblers: Ash Taylor (55, 1st of the season)
Scunthorpe: none
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Scunthorpe: 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.
Midfielder Matt Grimes was back from a one-match ban as the Cobblers and Scunthorpe met for the third time in a fortnight. Alex Revell (groin), Aaron Phillips (thigh) and Sam Hoskins and Daniel Powell (both hamstring) were all still unavailable for selection.
Matt Crooks headed just wide from a Billy Waters cross in the Cobblers' first chance of the afternoon while Waters had a shot saved by Matt Gilks. The Scunthorpe keeper then recovered from a fumble to keep out a powerful effort from Grimes.
The Cobblers were growing into the contest and John-Joe O’Toole also went agonisingly close with a header.
Hakeeb Adelakun made a good run but dragged his shot wide and David Buchanan made a terrific goalline clearance to deny Duane Holmes who looked set to open the scoring.
With the first half nearly over, the Cobblers were dealt an injury blow when John-Joe O’Toole had to be replaced by Sam Foley.
Scunthorpe started the second half on top, Holmes having a shot deflected behind and Matt Ingram saving well from Jordan Clarke.
Cameron Burgess broke the deadlock on 56 minutes, getting the final touch to a ball across the box from Adelakun.
Duane Holmes then doubled the visitors lead almost immediately, beating Ingram with a deft finish.
Chris Long fired over following a neat flowing move from the Cobblers involving Buchanan, Crooks and McGugan but Scunthorpe increased their lead on 74 minutes, Duane Holmes rounding Ingram to slot home his second of the afternoon.
Substitute Dean Bowditch saw an effort well parried by Gilks and Ash Taylor headed wide from a McGugan corner in stoppage time but there was to be no consolation goal for the Cobblers as their three-match winning run in the league came to an end.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (5) 8
FOULS: (6) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1
SCUNTHORPE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 8
CORNERS: (0) 3
FOULS: (6) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3