SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday October 7th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
BRISTOL ROVERS 6
Billy Bodin 38
Ellis Harrison 57, 61
Rory Gaffney 72
Liam Sercombe 77
Dominic Telford 86
Attendance: 6,087 (1,007 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Brendan Moloney (sub Regan Poole 42), David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Sam Foley (sub Lewis McGugan 59), Matt Grimes, Dean Bowditch, Marc Richards, Raheem Hanley (sub Sam Hoskins 63), Alex Revell
Subs not used: David Cornell, Shaun McWilliams, Daniel Powell, Billy Waters
Bristol Rovers: Sam Slocombe, Liam Sercombe, Ollie Clarke, Ellis Harrison (sub Stuart Sinclair 67), Billy Bodin (sub Tom Nichols 39), Chris Lines, Tom Broadbent, Marc Boca, Joe Partington, Rory Gaffney (sub Dominic Telford 76), Rollin Menayese
Subs not used: Daniel Leadbitter, Lee Brown, Byron Moore, Adam Smith
Referee: Mr Mark Heywood
Booked:
Cobblers: Matt Grimes 41, (2nd of the season)
Bristol Rovers: Ellis Harrison (57), Dominic Telford (82)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: Alex Revell 68, (3 match ban)
Bristol Rovers: 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.
After a midweek trip to Peterborough United in the Checkatrade Trophy the Cobblers returned to league action with Bristol Rovers the visitors to Sixfields in the first of back-to-back home games for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side.
The Cobblers were still without a whole host of players due to injury but Sam Hoskins (ankle), Shaun McWilliams (foot) and Regan Poole back from international duty with Wales under 21s were all named on the bench. Goalkeeper Sam Slocombe got the nod ahead of ex-Sixfields number one Adam Smith for Rovers who also included another former Cobbler in their starting line-up, Billy Bodin.
Matt Ingram made a terrific early save to deny Rovers forward Rory Gaffney and Tom Broadbent headed over in a bright start for the away side. Marc Richards flicked a header wide from the first Cobblers corner of the afternoon.
Rollin Menayese had to be alert to clear the danger following some good play from Sam Foley and Dean Bowditch as the Cobbblers started to get on top.
A deflected shot from Matt Grimes forced another in a succession of Cobblers corners before Bodin saw a shot parried by Ingram on the break. Another good stop from Ingram kept out an effort from Ellis Harrison as Rovers enjoyed a spell of pressure.
Richards did well to hold off Menayese before slicing a shot wide from 20-yards and Liam Sercombe saw a shot destined for the top-right corner saved by Ingram, both sides continuing to create chances in an open and entertaining first half.
Bristol Rovers took the lead on 38 minutes, Billy Bodin scoring with a shot from just inside the box. Bodin, having picked up an injury in scoring the goal, was then replaced by Tom Nichols. The Cobblers made a change of their own soon after, Regan Poole coming on for Brendan Moloney.
Rovers were awarded a penalty on 42 minutes when Alex Revell tangled with Tom Nichols. Nichols stepped up to take the penalty himself but a superb save from Ingram kept the scoreline at 1-0.
Revell fired wide from Richards lay-off at the start of the second half while at the other end Joe Partington spurned a headed chance for Rovers.
Ellis Harrison doubled Rovers lead on 56 minutes, heading in at the far post from Sercombe’s cross.
Lewis McGugan came on for his home debut in the Cobblers second change, replacing Sam Foley just before the hour mark.
Harrison made it 3-0 on 61 minutes, his second of the afternoon a neat strike into the bottom corner.
The off-side flag denied Richards a goal as the Cobblers looked for a way back into the game, Bowditch having created the opening. Northampton Town's already difficult task was made even harder on 68 minutes when Alex Revell was shown a straight red card by referee Mark Heywood after a clash with Rovers defender Tom Broadbent.
Rory Gaffney made it 4-0 on 72 minutes, snaffling up the chance from close range after Chris Lines' initial strike had come back off the post.
The afternoon got worse for the Cobblers when Liam Sercombe made it 5-0 with a volley and substitute Dominic Telford turned in Marc Bola’s cross to make it six.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 9
CORNERS: (7) 10
FOULS: (4) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (9) 15
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (6) 9
FOULS: (5) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 7