Match Stats

Unbeaten Run In Gold Ends In Northampton

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A first-half collapse saw Northampton Town dominate Crewe Alexandra from set-pieces with two Scott Wharton goals and a Will Hoskins penalty at Sixfields yesterday saw the Cobblers in control. Chris Porter would get one back for the Alex before Andy Williams returned the lead to 3 after the break.

Manager David Artell named an unchanged team from last Saturday’s FA Cup win at Accrington Stanley as Will Jaaskelainen back after international duty during the week retaining his place ahead of Dave Richards while Eddie Nolan and Daniel Powell returned to the bench following injury. Former Alex striker Vadaine Oliver started for the Cobblers with Alex Academy Alumni midfielder Billy Waters was on their bench.

The first goal came on 10 minutes with a free-kick turned in by Scott Wharton from close-range before he added his, and his side’s, second 8 minutes later volleying-in from a tight-angle. They would add a third mid-way through the half with Nicky Hunt bringing down Paul Anderson with Hoskins scoring despite Jaaskelainen getting a hand on it. The Alex would get a goal back through Porter as he followed by from Hunt’s shot that was saved by home keeper David Cornell before Charlie Kirk would hit the post in the final minute of the half.

The fourth Northampton goal came 10 minutes after the break with Williams getting through and lobbing Jaaskelainen before Artell would change things with Powell and Callum Ainley coming on for Owen Dale and Kirk respectively and later Chuma Anene for Paul Green as the Alex went looking for a way to get back into the game.

We host Morecambe next Saturday before the rearranged trip to Forest Green Rovers the following Tuesday night.

What can we learn from this game?

We need to be better in both boxes, especially when it comes to attacking the ball in defensive positions, and more clinical in the opposition area. Also, sometimes we are going to have to use a Plan B in some games rather than play the same way against each team but I’m not sure that we have too many options to change too much from our normal way of playing in the current squad.

I would assume that Nolan isn’t completely fit otherwise he’d have started yesterday but will imagine that he’ll be in the starting 11 against Morecambe.

Northampton Town
4 – 1
Crewe Alexandra

Sixfields

League 2

16/11/2019 3:00 pm

Attendance: 5236

Referee: Craig Hicks

Northampton Town Crewe Alexandra
Wharton (2), Hoskins, Williams Porter
Cornell Jaaskelainen
Goode Ng
Wharton Hunt
Turnbull Mbulu
 
Hoskins Pickering
Lines Green 75
McCormack 84 Wintle
Adams Lowery
Anderson 89 Dale 61
Williams Porter
Oliver 74 Kirk 65

Substitutes

Arnold Richards
Hall-Johnson Nolan
Smith 74 Powell 61
Pollock
 
84 Jones
Warburton 89 Ainley 65
Harriman Finney
Waters Anene 75

Game Statistics

17 Goal attempts 22
6 On Target 8
2 Corners 11
19 Fouls 15
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
46 % 54

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