SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday January 2nd, 3.00pm
PTS Academy Stadium
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
SUNDERLAND 0
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Lloyd Jones, Cian Bolger, Alan Sheehan (sub Fraser Horsfall 62), Shaun McWilliams, Ryan Watson, Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins, Nicky Adams (sub Michael Harriman 89), Danny Rose (sub Harry Smith 74), Benny Ashley-Seal
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Ricky Holmes, Mark Marshall, Christopher Missilou
Sunderland: Lee Burge, Conor McLaughlin, Tom Flanagan, Bailey Wright, Max Power (sub Chris Maguire 68), Charlie Wyke (sub Danny Graham 88), Josh Scowen, Dion Sanderson, Jack Diamond (sub Lynden Gooch 68), Grant Leadbitter, Aiden McGeady (sub Aiden O'Brien 79)
Subs not used: Jordan Willis, Elliot Embleton, Remi Matthews
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Booked:
Cobblers: Ryan Watson (40, 5th of the season)
Sunderland: Charlie Wyke (13), Josh Scowen (44), Chris Maguire (74)
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Sunderland: 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.
Sunderland were at the PTs Academy Stadium for Northampton Town’s first game of 2021. Keith Curle named an unchanged side with Harry Smith back on the bench after recovering from illness.
Nicky Adams curled a shot wide early on before a chance for Sunderland from a free-kick, Bailey Wright unable to find the target with a flicked header from six-yards.
Jonathan Mitchell made a strong save from Max Power as the first half reached the midway point, Power stinging the palms of the Cobblers keeper with a fiercely struck shot from distance.
Ryan Watson tried a shot from 35-yards after Lee Burge’s goal-kick deflected off Danny Rose but his opportunistic effort went just over the bar. Watson was involved in the action again before half-time when he went down in the area but no penalty was the decision from referee Leigh Doughty with Watson instead shown a yellow card.
The Cobblers carved out an opening at the start of the second half but Watson dragged his shot wide when perhaps a pass to an in space Nicky Adams alongside him was the better option.
Fraser Horsfall replaced Alan Sheehan in the Cobblers' first change. Shaun McWilliams then made a superb interception to nick the ball off an advancing Jack Diamond who was replaced soon after in a double change for the visitors, Chris Maguire and Lynden Gooch coming on.
Charlie Wyke, under pressure, fired over from close range in a chance for Sunderland as Danny Rose made way for Harry Smith.
Into the final few minutes Jack Sowerby went close from distance and Sam Hoskins saw a deflected effort saved by Burge while Sunderland substitute Aiden O’Brien warmed the gloves of Mitchell, neither side simply settling for a point. There was to be no late drama though as the game ended goalless, Smith flashing a header wide from a free-kick in stoppage time.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 1
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 6
CORNERS: (0) 2
FOULS: (7) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
SUNDERLAND MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (11) 18
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0