SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday September 23rd, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
BRADFORD CITY 1
Tony McMahon 34
Attendance: 6,355 (1,145 away fans)
Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Brendan Moloney, David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Regan Poole (sub Sam Hoskins 74), Matt Grimes, Matt Crooks, Alex Revell, Chris Long (sub Billy Waters 38), Daniel Powell (sub Marc Richards 68)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Leon Barnett, Yaser Kasim, George Smith
Bradford: Colin Doyle, Adam Chicksen, Jake Reeves, Matthew Kilgallon, Romain Vincelot, Nicky Law (sub Adam Thompson 80), Charlie Wyke, Dominic Poleon (sub Omari Patrick 64), Alex Gilliead, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Tony McMahon
Subs not used: Paul Taylor, Seamus McCartan, Tom Field, Alex Jones, Lukas Raedar
Referee: Mr Graham Horwood
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Bradford: Alex Gilliead (84)
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: none
Bradford: 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.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made four changes as the Cobblers tough run of fixtures continued with a home game against Bradford City, who started the afternoon 4th in the League 1 table. Aaron Pierre, Alex Revell, Chris Long and Matt Crooks, available again after serving a one-match ban, all came into the side, replacing Leon Barnett, Yaser Kasim, Marc Richards and Raheem Hanley. Sam Hoskins, sidelined since January with a serious knee injury, was named on the bench. There was a good crowd in at Sixfields with the club’s Community Day drawing in a large number of young supporters.
Bradford had the first chance of the afternoon, Charlie Wyke ‘s shot blocked at close range, Nicky Law failing to capitalise on the follow-up. Colin Doyle saved comfortably from Chris Long as the Cobblers looked to press while at the other end Matt Ingram used all his reflexes to deny Wyke.
The opening goal came on 34 minutes, Bradford taking the lead from a strongly contested but superbly executed free-kick by full-back Tony McMahon.
A few minutes later Hasselbaink made an early change, bringing Billy Waters on for Chris Long who reported a tight hamstring. Matt Crooks had a shot deflected behind as the Cobblers upped the tempo before half-time, Aaron Pierre heading wide from the resultant corner.
The Cobblers started the second half how they ended the first, on the front foot, putting Bradford under pressure in search of an equaliser.
Marc Richards replaced Daniel Powell midway through the half before Sam Hoskins returned to action for the first time in nine months, receiving a tremendous reception as he came on for Regan Poole. The Cobblers continued to press hard but it wasn’t quite coming off for them in the final third.
Revell headed just wide from a David Buchanan cross as the game entered the final five minutes and Marc Richards had a chance in stoppage time but couldn’t keep his shot down from Revell’s flick on. The Cobblers had battled hard but there was to be no reward for their efforts as Bradford held on to claim the three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
BRADFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (2) 2
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1