Bristol Rovers sent the Cobblers to a second successive home defeat, as Rickie Lambert’s header was enough to give them the points in a dismal evening at Sixfields. The Cobblers were poor and never really looked a threat to the visitors who won for the first time in eleven games.
Ryan Gilligan kept his place in the starting line-up in the Cobblers midfield while Alex Russell shook off a knee problem to join him. Stuart Gray went for a five-man defence with Daniel Jones and Jason Crowe acting as wing backs. For Rovers, both former Cobblers players Chris Carruthers and Richard Walker started on the bench.
The visitors had the first chance of the game with Cobblers fans still streaming into Sixfields inside the first minute. A corner was swung into the Town area and Steve Elliott hit a great chance wide with his left foot.
Elliott again got free from another corner after five minutes but luckily for the Cobblers, their poor marking wasn’t punished and the Rovers man headed over.
Brad Johnson struck well wide on twenty minutes as the Cobblers looked to get going after a poor start to the game. Mark Hughes went into the book shortly after and he will miss a game after picking up his fifth caution of the season.
On the half hour mark, Daniel Jones swung in a free kick but the ball was headed away by a Rovers defender for a corner. With five minutes to go to half time, Jason Crowe did well down the right hand side and set up Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers midfielder fired well over the bar.
Sean Rigg came close to giving Rovers the lead just before half time as he was sent clear but his shot unluckily hit the post, hit the back of Mark Bunn and rolled out for a corner.
A poor first half came to an end though as neither side could get a hold of the game.
Mark Bunn went down low to save from Stuart Campbell early in the second half but the save was comfortable for the Cobblers stopper. Ryan Gilligan gave us our first real effort on goal of the second half on the hour mark as he hit a shot from distance but it went just wide.
Seconds later, Brad Johnson came forward and created an opening for Andy Kirk who shot just wide of the near post as the Cobblers brightened up. Stuart Gray made his first change of the evening as Andy Holt replaced Mark Hughes just after the hour.
Rickie Lambert struck just over the bar with a first time shot as Rovers had the best chance of the second half coming from the former Rochdale man but the visitors were ahead on seventy minutes. A corner from Stuart Campbell was headed home by Lambert from six yards out.
Colin Larkin was brought on with fifteen minutes to play, replacing Brad Johnson.
Andy Kirk was put through with a good chance as the Cobblers desperately tried to get back into the game but the defender caught him and got a challenge in on time to deny the Cobblers’ top scorer.
Daniel Jones was the final Cobblers substitution as Danny Jackman replaced him.
With just a minute to go, Colin Larkin crossed and Poul Hubertz nodded the ball back across goal but Jason Crowe couldn’t make contact at the far post.
But that was the last real effort on goal and Bristol Rovers recorded their first win in eleven games, sending the Cobblers crashing to our second home defeat in the space of a few days.
Ryan Gilligan kept his place in the starting line-up in the Cobblers midfield while Alex Russell shook off a knee problem to join him. Stuart Gray went for a five-man defence with Daniel Jones and Jason Crowe acting as wing backs. For Rovers, both former Cobblers players Chris Carruthers and Richard Walker started on the bench.
The visitors had the first chance of the game with Cobblers fans still streaming into Sixfields inside the first minute. A corner was swung into the Town area and Steve Elliott hit a great chance wide with his left foot.
Elliott again got free from another corner after five minutes but luckily for the Cobblers, their poor marking wasn’t punished and the Rovers man headed over.
Brad Johnson struck well wide on twenty minutes as the Cobblers looked to get going after a poor start to the game. Mark Hughes went into the book shortly after and he will miss a game after picking up his fifth caution of the season.
On the half hour mark, Daniel Jones swung in a free kick but the ball was headed away by a Rovers defender for a corner. With five minutes to go to half time, Jason Crowe did well down the right hand side and set up Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers midfielder fired well over the bar.
Sean Rigg came close to giving Rovers the lead just before half time as he was sent clear but his shot unluckily hit the post, hit the back of Mark Bunn and rolled out for a corner.
A poor first half came to an end though as neither side could get a hold of the game.
Mark Bunn went down low to save from Stuart Campbell early in the second half but the save was comfortable for the Cobblers stopper. Ryan Gilligan gave us our first real effort on goal of the second half on the hour mark as he hit a shot from distance but it went just wide.
Seconds later, Brad Johnson came forward and created an opening for Andy Kirk who shot just wide of the near post as the Cobblers brightened up. Stuart Gray made his first change of the evening as Andy Holt replaced Mark Hughes just after the hour.
Rickie Lambert struck just over the bar with a first time shot as Rovers had the best chance of the second half coming from the former Rochdale man but the visitors were ahead on seventy minutes. A corner from Stuart Campbell was headed home by Lambert from six yards out.
Colin Larkin was brought on with fifteen minutes to play, replacing Brad Johnson.
Andy Kirk was put through with a good chance as the Cobblers desperately tried to get back into the game but the defender caught him and got a challenge in on time to deny the Cobblers’ top scorer.
Daniel Jones was the final Cobblers substitution as Danny Jackman replaced him.
With just a minute to go, Colin Larkin crossed and Poul Hubertz nodded the ball back across goal but Jason Crowe couldn’t make contact at the far post.
But that was the last real effort on goal and Bristol Rovers recorded their first win in eleven games, sending the Cobblers crashing to our second home defeat in the space of a few days.
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