SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday November 27th, 3.00pm
Sixfields
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Sam Hoskins 41
LEYTON ORIENT 0
Attendance: 5,769 (907 away supporters)
Cobblers: Liam Roberts, Aaron McGowan, Fraser Horsfall, Max Dyche, Ali Koiki, Jack Sowerby, Sam Hoskins (sub Benny Ashley-Seal 90), Paul Lewis, Mitch Pinnock, Kion Etete (sub Nicke Kabamba 20), Danny Rose
Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Scott Pollock, Jordan Flores, Dylan Connolly, Josh Tomlinson
Leyton Orient: Lawrence Vigouroux, Tom James, Harry Smith, Dan Kemp (sub Tyrese Omotoye 90), Theo Archibald (sub Connor Wood 62), Alex Mitchell, Aaron Drinan (sub Ruel Sotiriou 62), Darren Pratley, Omar Beckles, Shadrach Ogie, Hector Kyprianou
Subs not used: Dan Happe, Adam Thompson, Antony Papadopoulos, Rhys Byrne
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Booked:
Cobblers: none
Leyton Orient: Hector Kyprianou (52), Connor Wood (90)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Leyton Orient: 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.
Jon Brady was forced into making two changes for the visit of fellow promotion contenders Leyton Orient on a cold and windy afternoon at Sixfields. Max Dyche came in for Jon Guthrie whose wife had gone into labour while Danny Rose replaced the suspended Shaun McWilliams. Former Cobblers striker Harry Smith started for Orient who before kick-off sat 8th in Sky Bet League 2, four places and three points behind Town.
Liam Roberts made a good early save to turn behind a Tom James free-kick and Fraser Horsfall did well to clear the danger with Harry Smith primed to head home. Aaron Drinan also tested Roberts in a strong start from the visitors before Horsfall headed just wide for the Cobblers.
Already without McWilliams and Guthrie, Jon Brady was dealt a further blow when Kion Etete had to be substituted with the on-loan Spurs striker feeling his hamstring. Nicke Kabamba came on to partner Danny Rose in attack.
Smith headed wide after getting on the end of a floated ball in from Theo Archibald and Dan Kemp also went close in a couple of half chances for Orient.
It was the Cobblers though who took the lead on 41 minutes, Sam Hoskins in the right place at the right time to poke home after a long-throw from Mitch Pinnock was flicked on by Dyche.
Horsfall headed into the side netting after a Pinnock free-kick hung in the wind as the Cobblers looked for a second goal. With just over an hour played Orient boss Kenny Jackett made a double change in a bid to get his side back on level terms, the former Pompey boss bringing on Connor Wood and Ruel Sotiriou.
Orient had a chance to equalise from a corner but Smith headed over and the Cobblers then almost forced a second from a corner of their own, Horsfall seeing a shot blocked at close range.
The Cobblers appealed for a penalty when a cross from Ali Koiki appeared to strike the hand of an Orient defender in the box but referee Andrew Kitchen was unconvinced.
Tyrese Omotoye came on with the 90 minutes up in a final throw of the dice from Orient but the Cobblers came through injury time without any real scares to claim a hard fought three points.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 2
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (4) 10
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 3
LEYTON ORIENT MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (3) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
GOLDEN GOAL PEEL & REVEAL TIMES: 40:26