Northampton Town Football Club

Cobblers: David Cornell, Charlie Goode, Jordan Turnbull, Michael Harriman, Nicky Adams (sub Morgan Roberts 87), Sam Hoskins, Chris Lines, Ryan Watson, Paul Anderson (sub Scott Pollock 75), Vadaine Oliver, Andy Williams (sub Matt Warburton 61)
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Reece Hall-Johnson, Joe Martin, Ethan Johnston

Derby County: Kelle Roos, Andre Wisdom, Craig Forsyth, Jack Marriott (sub Martyn Waghorn 66), Chris Martin, Wayne Rooney, Curtis Davies, Jason Knight (sub Morgan Whitaker 82), Louie Sibley (sub Jayden Bogle 75), Max Bird, Scott Malone
Subs not used: Graeme Shinnie, Ben Hamer, Matt Clarke, Duane Holmes,

Referee: Darren England

Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Watson (90)
Derby County: Jayden Bogle (81)

Sent off:
Cobblers: none      
Derby County: none

In the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time since 2004, the Cobblers took on Championship side Derby County in front of the BT Sport cameras on a terrific night for Northamptonshire sport, the Saints Premiership rugby clash with London Irish at Franklin’s Gardens also being shown live by the same broadcaster.

Andy Williams and Sam Hoskins were both back in the starting eleven but the Cobblers were still without Alan McCormack, Shaun McWilliams and Harry Smith through injury. Manager Keith Curle was also forced into a defensive re-shuffle with Michael Harriman moving into the back three in place of the suspended Scott Wharton. Ethan Johnston from the club’s Football & Education programme retained his place on the bench where he was named alongside fellow academy graduates Morgan Roberts and Scott Pollock.

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney captained Derby, who knocked out Premier League side Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in round 3.

The atmosphere was palpable inside a packed out PTS Academy Stadium as the game got underway, the travelling fans also in fine voice amidst a cacophony of Cobblers noise.

On the front foot from the kick-off, the Cobblers started on the offensive and they went close to an opening goal when Derby failed to deal with a Nicky Adams corner, Vadaine Oliver’s effort kissing the top of the cross bar after Jordan Turnbull’s initial effort had been blocked.

Charlie Goode was alert to the danger when Jack Marriott threatened for Derby before Oliver headed just wide after a terrific ball into the box from Chris Lines had the Rams goalkeeper Kelle Roos scrambling.

Rooney took aim from 25-yards but his shot was deflected behind for a corner while at the other end the Cobblers continued to look dangerous, Adams this time seeing a shot blocked.

The “Justice for Harry” campaign was highlighted in the 19th minute with a picture of Cobblers fan Harry Dunn shown on the big screen, the whole ground united in applause for the young man tragically killed in a road traffic collision in August 2019.

Williams found the side netting and another superb block from Goode denied Chris Martin as both sides traded chances before the game settled down into a relative period of calm following what had been a fairly frantic opening half an hour, the Cobblers more than a match for the team two divisions higher than them in the EFL in a first half that ended goalless.

Derby defender Curtis Davies headed just over from a Rooney corner at the start of the second half while Goode did likewise from an Adams free-kick.

Chris Lines fired over on the half-volley and Matt Warburton, on for Williams, curled a shot narrowly wide in a good spell of pressure from the home side. Scott Pollock then replaced Paul Anderson in the Cobblers second change, the tie still very much in the balance with fifteen minutes to play.

Curle made his final change with Morgan Roberts on for the closing stages in place of Adams. There was to be a late chance for Derby in stoppage time but Craig Forsyth headed over from a Rooney free-kick as the tie finished 0-0, setting up a replay at Pride Park with the Cobblers into the hat for the fifth round for only the fourth time in the club’s long history.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS 
SHOTS ON TARGET: 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: 10
CORNERS: 1      
FOULS:  7       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: 1

DERBY COUNTY MATCH STATS   
SHOTS ON TARGET:  3 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: 4  
CORNERS: 6 
FOULS: 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: 0 

SCRATCH CARD GOAL TIMES: NOGOL