Millwall 0-1 Northampton Town

The Cobblers beat Millwall in the First Round of the Carling Cup for the second successive season as Jason Crowe’s goal was enough to win the game at the Den.

Stuart Gray started with the same team that beat Cheltenham 4-2 at the weekend with Abdul Osman starting on the bench following his return from suspension and Giles Coke also making up the squad after a recent injury.

Ryan Gilligan had an early chance to give us the lead but his shot from a Danny Jackman cross hit the post when the midfielder should have scored. But it wasn’t long before we were in front. On fifteen minutes, Liam Davis did well on the left hand side and crossed the ball in. Adebayo Akinfenwa dummied it and Jason Crowe swooped to finish left footed into the corner.

With the Cobblers dominating proceedings early on, Akinfenwa went close with a header but was adjudged to have fouled the defender anyway. Leon Constantine had a shot blocked by Zak Whitbread before the home side started to come back into the game.

Forward Lewis Grabban shot wide when put through on goal before the same player was booked after having angry words with the referee but the Cobblers were in front at the break.
Stuart Gray brought Giles Coke and Abdul Osman off the bench at the break for their first games of the season.

Just after half-time, Millwall’s new signing Treso Kendal missed with a good chance of a headed goal but put it wide of Mark Bunn’s post. Bunn was in action ten minutes later when Grabben forced him into a fine save.

On the hour mark, Giles Coke went on a mazy run from midfield and beat two players before being brought down midway into Millwall’s half. The Cobblers were holding their own and keeping Millwall at bay until the last fifteen minutes when the home side started to come back into the game.

Chris Hackett created a chance on the right hand, delivering a right footed cross for Kendal to head wide when he could have scored the eqauliser. Minutes later, Grabben did well inside the area and hit the post in Millwall’s last real chance of the game.

Akinfenwa had a shot blocked with ten minutes to play but the Cobblers hung on well to record a second win in the opening week of the season. We will now go into the hat with the Premier League side not in European competition.

Stuart Gray’s attention now turns to the game at MK Dons on Saturday as we look for a perfect first week of 2008/09!