SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday February 3rd, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
ROCHDALE 1
Calvin Andrew 53
Attendance: 5,475 (214 away supporters)
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey (sub Regan Poole 36), Joe Bunney, Ash Taylor, Jordan Turnbull, Hildeberto Pereira (sub Kevin van Veen 56), Matt Crooks, Matt Grimes, Sam Foley, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Gboly Ariyibi 71), Chris Long
Subs not used: David Cornell, Sam Hoskins, David Buchanan, Shaun McWilliams
Rochdale: Josh Lillis, Joe Rafferty, Jim McNulty, Calvin Andrew, Callum Camps (sub Stephen Humphrys 86), Scott Wiseman, Matt Done, Ryan Delaney, Andy Cannon, Mark Kitching, Ian Henderson
Subs not used: Harrison McGahey, Ollie Rathbone, Brendan Moore, Billy Knott, Sam Hart, Alex Dobre
Referee: John Busby
Booked:
Cobblers: Chris Long (31, 1st of the season), Matt Crooks (73, 6th), Regan Poole (79, 2nd)
Rochdale: Callum Camps (67), Mark Kitching (90)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Rochdale: 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.
Hildeberto Pereira made his first start for the Cobblers and Sam Foley came back into the side as boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made two changes for the visit of Rochdale. Regan Poole and Sam Hoskins dropped to the bench where they were joined by new signing Kevin van Veen. With six loan players in the squad and rules permitting only five to be named in the matchday 18, Everton loanee Boris Mathis was the player to miss out. Joe Bunney faced his former club having made the move from Rochdale to Sixfields in January.
After a slow start to the game, Andy Cannon went close to opening the scoring for Rochdale when he tried to catch Richard O’Donnell off his line, the Cobblers keeper just getting back in time to make the save.
Jordan Turnbull headed narrowly wide from a Matt Grimes free-kick, Sam Foley saw a header deflected over the bar and Josh Lillis denied John-Joe O’Toole as the home side began to probe for an opener. The Cobblers were then forced into making a change when Shay Facey picked up an injury, Regan Poole coming on.
O’Donnell made a good save to tip over a shot from Cannon before Mark Kitching was denied at close range from the subsequent corner. Matt Grimes had the final attempt of the first half, the on-loan midfielder curling a free-kick just wide.
Rochdale took the lead on 53 minutes, Calvin Andrew on the end of Matt Done’s low cross to side-foot the ball home from close range. Kevin van Veen then came on to make his debut, replacing Hildeberto Pereira with over half an hour still to play.
Ian Henderson tested O’Donnell following a neat one-two, Joe Rafferty also seeing an effort saved.
Grimes went close with a free-kick from 25-yards that landed on the roof of the net before Gboly Ariyibi came on for John-Joe O’Toole in the Cobblers final change.
Josh Lillis could only parry a cross from Ariyibi as the clock ticked towards 90 but there was to be no late equaliser as the Cobblers four-match unbeaten run came to an end.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 4
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
ROCHDALE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (6) 7
FOULS: (5) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 6