PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
Saturday July 20th, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2
Oliver Norwood 23 pen, 44 pen
Attendance: 3,825 (1,143 away supporters)
Cobblers: David Cornell, Remeao Hutton (trialist), Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Joe Bunney, Joe Martin, Ryan Watson, Chris Lines, Sam Hoskins, Harry Smith, Andy Williams
Subs: Vadaine Oliver, Reece Hall-Johnson, Shaun McWilliams, Jay Williams, Scott Pollock, Ryan Hughes, Steve Arnold, Curtis Yebli (trialist), Matt Warburton, Robbie Simpson (trialist)
Sheffield United: Simon Moore, Enda Stevens, John Fleck, Jack O’Connell, John Lundstram, Callum Robinson, John Egan, Phil Jagielka, Oliver Norwood, David McGoldrick, Kieron Freeman
Subs: Marcus Dewhurst, George Baldock, Chris Basham, Luke Freeman, Billy Sharp, Richard Stearman, Kean Bryan, Zak Brunt, Regan Slater, Leon Clarke, Harry Boyes
Referee: Mr Andy Woolmer
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Sheff Utd: none
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Sheff Utd: none
With the new EFL season just 14 days away the Cobblers welcomed Premier League opposition to the PTS Academy Stadium as Chris Wilder and Alan Knill returned with Sheffield United. Charlie Goode, signed on a permanent deal over the summer following a successful loan spell, captained the Cobblers side for the first time.
Andy Williams tested Simon Moore in the Blades goal as the Cobblers made a bright start, Harry Smith also seeing a shot from distance saved. David McGoldrick headed wide in United’s first chance of the afternoon while it needed a smart save from David Cornell to deny John Fleck.
Chris Lines curled a free-kick just wide but after an even opening twenty minutes it was Sheffield United who took the lead, Oliver Norwood scoring from the penalty spot after referee Andy Woolmer ruled a trip on Callum Robinson.
Phil Jagielka headed wide from a Norwood corner and Cornell saved from McGoldrick as the Blades looked to double their lead. With half-time approaching referee Andy Woolmer pointed to the penalty spot for a second time after Kieron Freeman went down in the area and Norwood was on hand again to convert.
Another sharp stop from Cornell prevented McGoldrick making it 3-0 at the start of the second half with Keith Curle having made three changes at half-time, Matt Warburton, Vadaine Oliver and trialist Curtis Yebli coming on for Williams, Smith and Lines.
The woodwork denied the Cobblers and Ryan Watson when his free-kick cannoned back off the post and Sam Hoskins saw a shot saved by Moore after being played in by Warburton in a good spell of pressure from the home side.
As the second half continued both sides started to ring the changes with Reece Hall-Johnson, Shaun McWilliams, Jay Williams, trialist Robbie Simpson and Scott Pollock all coming on for the Cobblers in a series of staggered substitutions.
A good block from Williams and subsequent clearance from Joe Bunney denied Norwood his hat-trick late on as the game finished 2-0 to the Blades.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (1) 1
FOULS: (8) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
SHEFFIELD UNITED MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 5
CORNERS: (7) 11
FOULS: (6) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 3
SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: 22:19, 43:33