SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday January 13th, 3.00pm
Northern Commercials Stadium
BRADFORD CITY 1
Paul Taylor 90
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
John-Joe O'Toole 43
Chris Long 62
Attendance: 19,343 (number of Cobblers fans not confirmed)
Bradford: Lukas Raeder, Matthew Kilgallon, Romain Vincelot, Nicky Law, Timothee Dieng, Paul Taylor, Shay McCartan (sub Dominic Poleon 72), Jacob Hanson (sub Callum Guy 66), Alex Gilliead, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Tyrell Robinson
Subs not used: Rouven Sattelmaier, Jake Reeves, Daniel Pybus, Daniel Devine, Jordan Gibson
Cobblers: Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey, Jordan Turnbull, Ash Taylor, Regan Poole, Matt Crooks, Matt Grimes, Sam Hoskins (sub Daniel Powell 76), John-Joe O’Toole (sub Hildeberto Pereira 88), Sam Foley, Chris Long (sub Alex Revell 86)
Subs not used: David Cornell, David Buchanan, Brendan Moloney, Shaun McWilliams
Referee: Mr Craig Hicks
Booked:
Bradford: Paul Taylor (87)
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (27, 3rd of the season), Matt Grimes (82, 8th), Sam Foley (85, 3rd), Shay Facey (90, 1st)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Bradford: none
Cobblers: 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.
Goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell and defender Jordan Turnbull, signed from Rotherham and Coventry respectively, both made their debut as boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made two changes to the side. Daniel Powell was back on the bench after missing the previous game against Southend with a minor hip injury.
Ash Taylor volleyed just over from an early corner as the Cobblers started brightly on an overcast afternoon in West Yorkshire.
Bradford had the ball in the back of the net on 38 minutes, Matthew Kilgallon following up on Paul Taylor’s free-kick but the goal was ruled out for off-side. Sam Hoskins was then denied by a good save from Lukas Raeder and O’Donnell tipped over an effort from Kilgallon in a frantic few minutes.
John-Joe O’Toole headed the Cobblers in front two minutes before the break, connecting perfectly with a Matt Grimes corner. Shay McCartan had a chance to level in first half stoppage time but sent his shot over the bar.
After a quiet start to the second half, the Cobblers having subdued the home side, Chris Long turned inside the box and drilled a shot past Raeder to make it 2-0.
Bantams substitute Callum Guy shot wide and a close range block from Taylor thwarted Timothee Dieng as the home side tried to respond.
With time ticking away a terrific save from O’Donnell and a goal line clearance kept the Cobblers two goal lead intact while the cross bar denied Dominic Poleon.
Paul Taylor scored from distance in stoppage time to make it a nervy last couple of minutes for the Cobblers but they held their nerve to claim all three points against the side who started the day fifth in Sky Bet League 1.
BRADFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 6
FOULS: (3) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 3
FOULS: (7) 15
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4